Was there a winner for the $695 million Mega Millions prize?

NEW YORK — The three-month winless streak continued Friday night for the $695 million Mega Millions jackpot. 

If there had been a winner, it would have been the 8th largest jackpot won in the lottery game’s history. 

The most recent Mega Millions jackpot was won during the drawing on September 10th. A lucky individual in Texas matched all 6 numbers, securing the $810 million prize.

So far this year, only three Mega Millions jackpots have been claimed. This includes a $1.1 billion jackpot won with a ticket bought in New Jersey back in March. Surprisingly, the prize remains unclaimed. Winners in New Jersey have up to a year to come forward and claim their winnings. The record for the highest Mega Millions jackpot stands at $1.6 billion, sold in Florida in August of the previous year.

The odds of winning the jackpot are one in more than 302 million. The overall odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24.

Starting in April 2025, the cost to play Mega Millions will increase to $5 per ticket, up from the current price of $2. Lottery officials have disclosed that this price adjustment is part of several modifications to the game. These changes aim to enhance jackpot odds, offer more frequent massive prizes, and enable even larger payouts in the future.

The winning numbers in Friday’s drawing were 6-43-52-58-65 Mega Ball: 16 Megaplier: 3.

When a winner matches all five numbers and the Mega Ball, they have the option to take the full jackpot paid out as an annuity over 30 years, or a lump sum cash payout of roughly half the size. Winners almost always take the cash option.

Players who match only the first five numbers win at least $1 million. 

Mega Millions drawings take place Tuesday’s and Friday’s at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.

1. $1.602 billion – August 8, 2023 – Florida
2. $1.537 billion – October 23, 2018 – South Carolina 
3. $1.348 billion – January 13, 2023 – Maine
4. $1.337 billion – July 29, 2022 – Illinois
5. $1.128 billion – March 26, 2024 – New Jersey
6. $1.050 billion – January 22, 2021 – Michigan
7. $810 million – September 10, 2024 – Texas 
8. Est. $695 million – December 13, 2024
9. $656 million – March 30, 2012 – Kansas/Illinois/Maryland
10. $648 million – December 17, 2013 – California/Georgia
11. $552 million – June 4, 2024 – Illinois