$800M Mega Millions Jackpot Yet to be Claimed
The Mega Millions jackpot has reached $800 million after weeks of unmatched winning numbers.
The $800 million jackpot is the biggest since last fall, and players have another chance to win the lifechanging payout in the July 28 draw.
No ticket matching all six numbers was drawn on Friday, 24 July. Therefore, the staggering unclaimed jackpot becomes the tenth biggest on record.
At a Glance:
- Mega Millions jackpot hits $800M for first time since November 2025
- Over 500,000 winning tickets were drawn on July 24
- US-wide payouts topped $10 million
- However, no ticket matched all six numbers to trigger the biggest prize
- Two Mega Millions jackpots have activated in 2026, the largest worth $536 million
More players help grow Mega Millions jackpot
The Mega Millions jackpot grows exponentially the longer it goes unclaimed. On July 20, the jackpot passed the $700 million mark.
However, after no-one won the jackpot on Tuesday, 21 July, the prizepool continued to grow. It has added $100 million in a single week, with $344 million available as a cash prize should it be taken down on the next drawing.
That means lottery players in states like Oklahoma, where traditional betting is more restricted, could become multi-millionaires next time around.
For context, the $800 million prizepool is the tenth largest in the history of Mega Millions.
How Mega Millions works
Mega Millions is a countrywide lottery covering 45 states, including Illinois and Florida. Draws take place twice a week, with thousands of prizes awarded based on the numbers drawn.
White balls are numbered 1 through 70, Mega Balls 1 through 24. The smallest possible prize is $10.
The Mega Millions jackpot drops if you match all six numbers drawn – five white balls, plus the gold Mega Ball. However, you can win smaller prizes by matching four or five white balls plus the Mega Ball.
- Only lottery game to award seven $1 billion jackpots across seven states
- Largest prize awarded was $1.6 billion in Florida in 2023
- Lottery tickets available to buy in 45 U.S. states
- Drawings take place Tuesdays and Fridays
Winner would join two lucky millionaires in 2026
The Mega Millions jackpot has swelled due to an unusual drawing on Friday where no-one matched five or six numbers. Not only was the $700 million prize not claimed, nor were smaller Match 5 payouts worth up to $10 million.
However, a few players bagged five-figure prizes up to $50,000 by matching four white numbers and the Mega Ball. That compared to several million-dollar prizes paid out in mid-July in Georgia, Florida, and New Jersey.
On that Friday drawing, prizes worth $2–4 million paid out. While Mega Millions organizers will be hoping for a bigger jackpot, and a slightly longer wait for another winner.
However, lottery hopefuls will be buying tickets in the hope that they are the lucky ones come July 28.
