Prize tiers
What are the odds for every Mega Millions prize?
Mega Millions draws five white balls and one Mega Ball. There are 9 ways to win. The odds below are calculated exactly from the number pools and match the official prize chart.
- Jackpot odds
- 1 in 290,472,336
- Prize tiers
- 9
- Overall odds
- 1 in 23.07
| Tier | Match | Prize | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackpot | 5 + Mega Ball | Jackpot | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| Tier 2 | 5 white balls | $2,000,000 at 2x (up to $10,000,000 at 10x) | 1 in 12,629,232 |
| Tier 3 | 4 + Mega Ball | $20,000 at 2x (up to $100,000 at 10x) | 1 in 893,761.03 |
| Tier 4 | 4 white balls | $1,000 at 2x (up to $5,000 at 10x) | 1 in 38,859.18 |
| Tier 5 | 3 + Mega Ball | $400 at 2x (up to $2,000 at 10x) | 1 in 13,965.02 |
| Tier 6 | 2 + Mega Ball | $20 at 2x (up to $100 at 10x) | 1 in 665 |
| Tier 7 | 3 white balls | $20 at 2x (up to $100 at 10x) | 1 in 607.17 |
| Tier 8 | 1 + Mega Ball | $14 at 2x (up to $70 at 10x) | 1 in 85.81 |
| Tier 9 | Mega Ball only | $10 at 2x (up to $50 at 10x) | 1 in 35.17 |
Every $5 play includes a random 2x-10x multiplier on non-jackpot prizes. Prize amounts below are base prizes before the multiplier.
Source: MegaMillions.com how to play.
More tickets
Do more tickets improve your Mega Millions odds?
Each different line covers one more combination, so 100 lines are about 100 times as likely to hit the jackpot as one line. The chance is still tiny, and the cost grows just as fast.
| Lines played | Cost | Jackpot odds | Chance of any prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5 | 1 in 290,472,336 | 4.33% |
| 5 | $25 | 1 in 58,094,467.20 | 19.87% |
| 10 | $50 | 1 in 29,047,233.60 | 35.79% |
| 50 | $250 | 1 in 5,809,446.72 | 89.09% |
| 100 | $500 | 1 in 2,904,723.36 | 98.81% |
| 1,000 | $5,000 | 1 in 290,472.34 | > 99.99% |
- Jackpot chance
- 1 in 14,523,616.80
- < 0.0001%
- Chance of any prize
- 58.78%
- Cost per drawing
- $100
Assumes every line is a different combination. Duplicate lines add cost without adding coverage.
Ticket value
What is a Mega Millions ticket worth after taxes?
At the current $413 million jackpot ($170.3 million cash), a $5 ticket is worth about $0.37 after federal tax, counting every prize tier. Jackpot shown for the Tuesday, October 20 drawing.
- Value of a $5 ticket
- $0.37
- Return per $1
- 7¢
- Break-even cash value
- $2.31 billion
Mega Millions prizes over $5,000 are taxed at the 37% top federal rate plus the selected state rate. Assumes you do not split the jackpot; a shared jackpot lowers the value.
Lotteries withhold 24% for federal tax at payout, but a jackpot puts the winner in the 37% bracket, so the rest is due at filing. For a full breakdown by state, use the lottery tax calculator.
Odds history
Have the Mega Millions odds changed?
The current 1 in 290,472,336 jackpot odds come from the game's present number pools. Here is how the format got here.
October 2017
The game moved to 5 from 1-70 plus a Mega Ball from 1-25, with jackpot odds of 1 in 302,575,350 at $2 per play.
April 2025
The ticket price rose to $5 with a built-in 2x-10x multiplier on non-jackpot prizes, and the Mega Ball pool shrank to 24. Jackpot odds improved to 1 in 290,472,336 and overall odds to about 1 in 23.07.
Compare
How do Mega Millions odds compare with other multistate games?
Jackpot odds and overall odds for each national game, per play. Lower numbers mean better chances.
| Game | Price | Jackpot odds | Any prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerball | $2 | 1 in 292,201,338 | 1 in 24.87 |
| Mega Millions | $5 | 1 in 290,472,336 | 1 in 23.07 |
| Millionaire for Life | $5 | 1 in 22,910,580 | 1 in 8.47 |
| Lotto America | $1 | 1 in 25,989,600 | 1 in 9.63 |
Compare every U.S. game in the lottery odds guide or run your own numbers in the lottery odds calculator.
Mega Millions Odds FAQ
Short answers about Mega Millions jackpot odds, prize odds, Quick Picks, and buying more tickets.
What are the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot?
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 290,472,336 for each $5 play. You must match all five white balls and the Mega Ball.
What are the odds of winning any Mega Millions prize?
The overall odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 23.07. Most of those wins are the smallest prizes, so the overall odds say little about your chance of a large payout.
Does buying more Mega Millions tickets improve my odds?
Each different line adds one more combination. With 100 different lines your jackpot chance is about 1 in 2,904,723.36, which is still a long shot and costs $500 per drawing.
Do Quick Picks have better Mega Millions odds than choosing my own numbers?
No. Every valid combination has exactly the same odds. Quick Picks can reduce the chance of sharing a jackpot because they avoid popular patterns like birthdays, but they do not make a win more likely.
Does playing the same Mega Millions numbers every draw help?
No. Each drawing is independent, so a combination that has never been drawn is no more "due" than one drawn last week. Playing the same numbers only changes convenience.
What are the odds of matching just the Mega Ball?
Matching only the Mega Ball has odds of 1 in 35.17 and pays $10 at 2x (up to $50 at 10x).
Does the Mega Millions add-on change the odds?
Every $5 play includes a random 2x-10x multiplier on non-jackpot prizes. Prize amounts below are base prizes before the multiplier.
Next steps
What to check next
Keep going with Mega Millions results, the odds guide, and tax tools.
Latest Mega Millions winning numbers, jackpot, and drawing schedule.
Lottery Odds GuideWhich U.S. lottery has the best odds, ranked side by side.
Lottery Odds CalculatorCalculate odds for any game, ticket count, or custom format.
Lottery Tax CalculatorSee what a jackpot is worth after federal and state taxes.
Responsible play
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