Will you get tricked or have a sweet lottery treat waiting for you on Nov. 1? If you're not feeling spooked, a $2 Mega Millions ticket could make you a multimillionaire this week.
Don't be frightened, it could happen to you! You could be the second person ever to win a Mega Millions jackpot on Halloween.
After no one claimed the $137 million jackpot on Friday, Oct. 27, that meant another jackpot rollover and a $159 million jackpot for the drawing this Halloween.
The winning numbers for the drawing on Tuesday, Oct. 31 were 14-35-37-55-70 and the Mega Ball was 15. The Megaplier was 3x. The Halloween drawing produced another rollover, meaning Friday's Mega Millions jackpot climbs to $181 million, with a $79.2 million cash option.
While no one chose Friday's jackpot numbers, there were several big winners. Two tickets (one from Michigan and the other from New Jersey) matched 5 for $1 million prizes. Two others have a bigger, $4 million haul, for them after matching 5 with the Megaplier. Those tickets were purchased in Georgia and Texas.
In case you're wondering, the winning numbers for the drawing on Friday were 11-32-43-57-70 and the Mega Ball was 6. Megaplier was 4x.
Like Powerball, Mega Millions tickets start at $2 each.
Below are some frequently asked questions about Mega Millions, Powerball and lottery odds. Good luck!
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How much is the Mega Millions jackpot for Halloween 2023, Tuesday, Oct. 31?
an estimated $159 million with a cash option of $69.6 million
How much was the Mega Millions jackpot for Friday, Oct. 27?
an estimated $137 million with a cash option of $59.8 million
How much was the Mega Millions jackpot for Tuesday, Oct. 24?
an estimated $114 million with a cash option of $49.6 million
Did someone winMega Millions lotterydrawing on Halloween?
According to Mega Millions' official winner stories online, one lottery pool won big on Halloween.
On Oct. 31, 2014, 17 co-workers from the hit show "Elementary" split a $1 million secondary prize, meaning their numbers matched five of the winning numbers. The Mega Millions winner story states: "Group spokesperson Raphael Banks explained he realized their good fortune from a news article. 'I saw an article reporting that the winning ticket was purchased at the store where I buy our tickets,' he said. 'I checked online and saw that we matched five numbers. I still wasn’t 100% sure so I went to the store to double check.'" After three years of the 17 transportation department employees playing the same numbers, Banks told lottery headquarters, "All I could think was 'at last!' "
A check was made to the 17 Amigos LLC on Nov. 17, 2014, themegamillions.comstory says, and the prize was claimed as a lump sum for $661,800. The winning Mega Millions numbers for Oct. 31, 2014, aka Halloween 2014 were 11, 29, 36, 58, 67 and the Mega Ball was 15.
Where can I buy Florida lottery tickets?
Florida Lottery tickets cannot be purchased by mail, fax or online. There are more than 13,000 authorized Florida Lottery retailers here, the site states.
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I bought a Mega Millions ticket in another state. Can I cash in my winnings in Florida?
No. Mega Millions prizes must be claimed in the state where the ticket was purchased, the Florida Lottery says.
I bought Powerball ticket in another state. Can I cash in my winnings in Florida?
No. Powerball prizes must be claimed in the state where the ticket was purchased, the Florida Lottery says.
When do Florida lottery tickets expire?
Prizes for Florida Lottery must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. To claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days after the applicable draw date to claim it. Florida Lottery says its scratch-off tickets and Fast Play game prizes "must be claimed within 60 days of the official end-of-game date. Once the applicable time period has elapsed, the related Florida Lottery ticket will expire."
What happens to the unclaimed prize money?
According to the Florida Lottery, state law requires 80% of unclaimed prize funds from expired tickets be transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. The remaining 20% is returned to the prize pool for future drawings.
What happens to unclaimed Mega Millions prize money?
Should a Mega Millions ticket not be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date, "the funds to pay the unclaimed jackpot will be returned to the lottery members in their proportion of sales for the jackpot rollover series."
What happens to unclaimed Powerball prize money?
Should a Powerball ticket not be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date, the Florida Lottery site states, "the funds to pay the unclaimed jackpot will be returned to the lottery members in their proportion of sales for the jackpot rollover series." According to Powerball's site, "unclaimed prizes are kept by the lottery jurisdiction. If a Grand Prize goes unclaimed, the money must be returned to all lotteries in proportion to their sales for the draw run. The lotteries then distribute the money, based on their own jurisdiction's laws, to other lottery games or to their jurisdiction's general fund, or otherwise as required by law."
What are the odds of winning Mega Millions?
According to theMega Millions website, you have a 1 in 302,575,350 chance to match all five white balls plus the gold Mega Ball. Prizes range from $2 (for matching the Mega Ball) to the grand prize jackpot, which varies.
What are the odds of winning Powerball?
Powerball drawings are held at 11 p.m. EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. According toPowerball.com, players have a 1 in 292.2 million chance to match all six numbers. Prizes range from $2 to the grand prize jackpot, which varies.
Are the odds of winning Powerball the same if the jackpot is $1 billion?
Players have a 1 in 24.9 chance of winning a prize,powerball.comstates. Players have a 1 in 292.2 million chance to match all six numbers whether the jackpot is $20 million or $1 billion.
Can Florida lottery winners remain anonymous?
According toFlorida Lottery's website, winners cannot remain anonymous: "Florida law mandates that the Florida Lottery provide records containing information such as the winner's name, city of residence; game won, date won, and amount won to any third party who requests the information."
However, the site states, since May 25, 2022, the "names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner."
Lottery experts and lawyers have said there are ways to remain anonymous if you win.
What is the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history? Who claimed $2.04 billion Powerball prize?
The largest lottery prize ever climbed to $2.04 billion in November. The jackpot was an estimated $1.9 billion days before the drawing, but lottery ticket sales helped it grow to more than $2 billion after updated calculations. A single ticket purchased in California won the grand prize, and the winner was revealed on Valentine's Day − Feb. 14, 2023. Edwin Castro won the largest-ever lottery jackpot, and he opted for a lump sum of $997.6 million, just shy of $1 billion, according to the California Lottery.
When did lotto jackpots hit $1 billion or more?
As of Oct. 31, 2023, there have been nine lottery jackpots that have reached or surpassed $1 billion. Only once has a jackpot surpassed $2 billion.
- 9.$1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: A single ticket won in Michigan.
- 8. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023: A single ticket won in California.
- 7.$1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: A single ticket won in Illinois.
- 6.$1.35 billion, Jan. 13, 2023: A single ticket was purchased in Maine.
- 5.$1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: A single ticket won in South Carolina.
- 4. $1.58 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023: A single ticket won in Neptune Beach, Florida
- 3.$1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three tickets won from California, Florida, Tennessee.
- 2. $1.73 billion Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023: A single ticket won in California.
- 1.$2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022: A single ticket won in California.
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What are the Top 10 largest Mega Millions jackpots ever?
According to its website, here are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots as of Oct. 31, 2023:
- 10.$536 million — July 8, 2016; Indiana
- 9.$543 million — July 24, 2018; California
- 8.$648 million — Dec. 17, 2013; California and Georgia
- 7.$656 million — March 30, 2012; Illinois, Kansas and Maryland
- 6.$1.05 billion — Jan. 22, 2021; Michigan
- 5. $1.08 billion — July 19, 2023; California
- 4.$1.337 billion — July 29, 2022; Illinois
- 3.$1.35 billion — Jan. 13, 2023; Maine
- 2.$1.537 billion — Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina
- 1. $1.58 billion — Aug. 8, 2023; Florida
What are the Top 10 largest Powerball jackpots ever?
Here are the Top 10 Powerball jackpots as of Oct. 31, 2023:
- 10.$687.8 million — Oct. 27, 2018; Iowa and New York
- 9.$699.8 million — Oct. 4, 2021; California
- 8.$731.1 million — Jan. 20, 2021; Maryland
- 7.$754.6 million — Feb. 6, 2023; Washington
- 6.$758.7 million — Aug. 23, 2017; Massachusetts
- 5.$768.4 million — March 27, 2019; Wisconsin
- 4. $1.08 billion — July 19, 2023; California
- 3.$1.586 billion — Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida and Tennessee
- 2. $1.73 billion — Oct. 11, 2023; California
- 1.$2.04 billion — Nov. 7, 2022; California
What are the Top 10 largest lottery jackpots ever?
The following Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots made the Top 10 biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history, as of Oct. 31, 2023.
- 10.$768.4 million Powerball drawing — March 27, 2019; Wisconsin
- 9.$1.05 billion Mega Millions drawing — Jan. 22, 2021; Michigan
- 8.$1.08 billion Powerball drawing — July 19, 2023; California
- 7.$1.337 billion Mega Millions drawing — July 29, 2022; Illinois
- 6.$1.35 billion Mega Millions drawing — Jan. 13, 2023; Maine
- 5.$1.537 billion Mega Millions drawing — Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina
- 4.$1.58 billion Mega Millions drawing — Aug. 8, 2023; Florida
- 3.$1.586 billion Powerball drawing — Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida and Tennessee
- 2. $1.73 billion Powerball drawing — Oct. 11, 2023; California
- 1.$2.04 billion Powerball drawing — Nov. 7, 2022; California
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her onTwitteror Instagram at@byjensangalang. Support local journalism.Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
