The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to an estimated $743 million after no one won the grand prize on Tuesday. It’s now the 10th-largest prize in the game’s history.
That means there’s still a chance — about 1 in 303 million — that someone could take home the jackpot after the next drawing on Friday night.
For comparison, the odds of getting eaten by a shark are 1 in 264 million and 1 in 5 million for a shark attack.
The chances of being struck by lightning are about 1 in 1 million. So you’re almost 300 times more likely to be struck by lightning than you are to win Mega Millions.
But if someone does win, they can choose between a $743 million prize paid out in either yearly payments or a one-time payment of $323.4 million. Both amounts are before taxes.
I need to check my Mega Millions ticket. What were Tuesday’s winning numbers?
The winning Mega Millions numbers for Tuesday, July 21, are 25-37-59-68-70 and the Mega Ball is 10.
When are the drawings?
Mega Millions has two drawings each week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 11 p.m. ET. The next drawing is on Friday, July 24. Here’s how to play.
What are the 10 highest Mega Millions jackpots?
$1.602 billion — Winning ticket on Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida
$1.537 billion — Winning ticket on Oct. 23, 2018, in South Carolina
$1.35 billion — Winning ticket on Jan. 13, 2023, in Maine
$1.337 billion — Winning ticket on July 29, 2022, in Illinois
$1.269 billion — Winning ticket on Dec. 27, 2024, in California
$1.128 billion — Winning ticket on March 26, 2024, in New Jersey
$1.05 billion — Winning ticket on Jan. 22, 2021, in Michigan
$983 million — Winning ticket on Nov. 14, 2025, in Georgia
$810 million — Winning ticket on Sept. 10, 2024, in Texas
$743 million — Current jackpot
What are the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot?
Let’s just say there’s a better chance of getting struck by lightning twice or winning an Olympic medal than winning the Mega Millions jackpot.
Winning Mega Millions: 302,575,350 to 1
Being eaten by a shark: 264 million to 1
Being struck by lightning twice: 19 million to 1
Becoming U.S. president: 32.6 million to 1
Dying in a plane crash: 11 million to 1
Being hit by debris from a plane: 10 million to 1
Being killed by a bee sting: 6.5 million to 1
Being attacked by a shark: 5 million to 1
Being attacked by a grizzly bear: 2.7 million to 1
Becoming a movie star: 1.5 million to 1
Being struck by lightning: 960,000 to 1
Winning an Olympic medal: 662,000 to 1
Hitting a hole-in-one in golf: 12,500 to 1
Winning an Oscar: 11,500 to 1
Bowling a perfect 300 game: 11,500 to 1
Being injured by a toilet: 10,000 to 1
Becoming a millionaire: 30 to 1
Sources: Bookies.com; The Motley Fool
