Mega Millions has hit an estimated $900 million ahead of the Tuesday, Nov. 11, drawing. And if no one wins, we could see another $1 billion jackpot before Thanksgiving.
This drawing marks the eighth-largest jackpot since the game began in 2002, but it still has a way to go before hitting the top jackpot of $1.602 billion, which was won in Florida on Aug. 8, 2023. To secure a spot in the top three, it would also need to surpass the $1.128 billion prize won in New Jersey on March 26, 2024, and the $1.269 billion awarded in California on Dec. 27, 2024.
You still have time to grab a ticket ahead of the Nov. 11 drawing. Here’s when it happens and how to play Mega Millions.
The next Mega Millions drawing is Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 11 p.m. ET. Mega Millions has drawings every Tuesday and Friday.
The jackpot has hit an estimated $900 million with a $415.3 million lump cash prize.
The jackpot was last won in Virginia on June 27.
There have been four Mega Millions winners in 2025, but none have come close to this jackpot. The most recent and largest jackpot winner, from Virginia, claimed a $348 million jackpot on June 27.
Before that, an Ohio player won $112 million on April 18. On March 25, an Illinois ticket holder took home $344 million. The first jackpot of the year came just 17 days into 2025, and a winner in Arizona won $113 million.
It’s as easy as buying a ticket where they are available. For the ticket, you need to pick six numbers. Five of them will be white balls with numbers from 1 to 70. The gold Mega Ball ranges from 1 to 24.
Not in the mood to pick, you can go with a random draw, also called a “Quick Pick” or an “Easy Pick.”
Tickets are $5 each and include a randomly assigned multiplier, multiplying the base prize by two, three, four, five, or 10 times.
There are several options on how to claim a lottery ticket in South Carolina.
If it is under $500, you can go to your nearest retailer. If it is $100,000 or less, you can claim it by mail. Higher prizes need to make a trip to Columbia.
Find out everything about claiming a prize at sceducationlottery.com.
Here are the top 10 largest jackpots in the game’s history, according to the Mega Millions’ website. Including a big winner from South Carolina.
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South Carolina is one of 11 states where lottery winners can remain completely anonymous. Other states have stipulations for anonymity. Here’s where you can remain anonymous.
USA TODAY contributed to this story.