THE lucky lottery numbers for a recent Mega Millions game have officially been unveiled, with a jackpot prize worth a whopping $150 million.
When a player steps forward to claim the fortune, it will immediately drop to $67.9 million due to a quirk in the lottery rules.
The lucky numbers for a $150 million Mega Millions jackpot have been revealed[/caption]
Mega Millions is one of the country’s two big jackpot games alongside Powerball, with both lottery games played across multiple states.
The popular lotto game hosts drawings twice a week, every Tuesday and Friday, at around 11:00 pm Eastern Time.
The most recent Mega Millions drawing took place on Tuesday, August 5, with an estimated jackpot of $150 Million.
The winning numbers for Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing were 12, 27, 42, 59 and 65, with a Mega Ball of 2.
Although no one managed to scoop the Mega Millions jackpot, the prize will roll over to the next drawing this Friday, August 8.
The grand prize will jump to an estimated $166 million with a cash option of roughly $75.2 million, per the Mega Millions website.
A BIG DECISION
Should someone match all five white ball numbers and the gold Mega Ball to win the jackpot prize in the upcoming drawing, they can opt for an annuity or cash payment.
The annuity option is handed out as one immediate payment followed by 29 yearly payments, with each payment 5% larger than the last.
“This helps protect winners’ lifestyle and purchasing power in periods of inflation,” per the Mega Millions website.
On the other hand, the cash option is a one-time, lump-sum payment.
The cash option of $75.2 million is significantly smaller than the advertised jackpot of $166 million because the latter amount represents the annuity prize, used as a marketing tool.
It highlights the potential long-term value of the prize if it were invested and paid out over 30 years.
Meanwhile, the cash option represents the upfront value of the Mega Millions prize.
Both options are subject to taxes, meaning that players will see their prize amounts drop even more thanks to the required tax withholdings.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?
Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?
The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.
Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.
Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.
Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.
Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you’ll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity.
MONEY MOVES
While Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing produced no jackpot winners, that doesn’t mean that no one won some cash that day.
Over 200,000 tickets sold in the US scored prizes ranging from $10 to $30,000 in the drawing, according to Mega Millions.
More than 62,000 of those players cashed in $10, while three lucky players managed to scoop $30,000 prizes.
One Mega Millions player in California managed to win $44,820 by matching four winning numbers and the Mega Ball with a 3x multiplier in Tuesday’s drawing, California Lottery officials said.
What are the Mega Millions prizes?
- Match 5 White Balls + Mega Ball: Jackpot
- Match 5 White Balls: $2 million, $3 million, $4 million, $5 million or $10 million
- Match 4 White Balls + Mega Ball: $20,000, $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 or $100,000
- Match 4 White Balls: $1,000, $1,500 $2,000, $2,500 or $5,000
- Match 3 White Balls + Mega Ball: $400, $600, $800, $1,000 or $2,000
- Match 3 White Balls: $20, $30, $40, $50 or $100
- Match 2 White Balls + Mega Ball: $20, $30, $40, $50 or $100
- Match 1 White Ball + Mega Ball: $14, $21, $28, $35 or $70
- Match Mega Ball: $10, $15, $20, $25 or $50
The lucky player bought their ticket at a Kwik Korner store in Reedley, roughly a 25-mile drive southeast from Fresno.
While no one won the jackpot earlier this week, there have been four Mega Millions winners so far in 2025, with the most recent being a Virginia player who scored a jackpot of $348 million on the June 27 game.
Check your tickets, as you may be sitting on an unclaimed fortune.
Lottery officials are warning players to check their numbers as a nearly $800,000 ticket remains unclaimed – the slip was sold at a supermarket.
Meanwhile, four Powerball prizes worth $200,000 must be claimed in August.
