The Mega Millions jackpot for the Tuesday, Feb. 24 drawing has climbed to an estimated $438 million, with a $203.1 million cash option on the line. The prize has grown after the previous drawing produced no jackpot-winning ticket, keeping the spotlight firmly on the next set of numbers and the familiar late-night draw time.
Mega Millions is drawn twice each week, and rollover streaks like this can quickly turn a headline jackpot into a must-watch event. Whether you’re playing for the full prize or simply chasing a smaller match, the structure of the game matters: a single lucky ball can be the difference between walking away empty-handed and landing a payout.
Mega Millions jackpot for Feb. 24
Tuesday’s drawing carries an advertised top prize of $438 million. The lump-sum cash option is listed at $203.1 million. As always, jackpot and cash values can adjust depending on ticket sales and the final payout calculations tied to the draw.
What are the winning Mega Millions numbers for 2/24/2026?
Winning numbers: 12 – 39 – 43 – 49 – 55 | Mega Ball: 23
Did anyone win the jackpot last time
No one matched all the required numbers on Friday, Feb. 20 to claim the jackpot. That outcome pushed the top prize higher and set up Tuesday’s drawing at $438 million.
More lottery results: If you’re following multiple U.S. draws, you can also check this update: Powerball winning numbers February 23, 2026 with the $203m jackpot results.
How many numbers you need to match to win something
Mega Millions prizes aren’t limited to perfect tickets. You can win with partial matches, and the minimum win is tied to the Mega Ball. Matching only the Mega Ball awards a $2 prize. That’s the simplest path to a payout, and it’s why the Mega Ball is often viewed as the key “must-have” match on lower-tier tickets.
Matching one white ball plus the Mega Ball increases the prize to $4. On the other hand, matching two white balls without the Mega Ball does not pay. The Mega Ball is what unlocks payouts at the very bottom of the prize ladder.
What happens if you match two numbers
Two matches in Mega Millions only matter if one of them is the Mega Ball. A ticket with one white ball and the Mega Ball pays $4. A ticket with two white balls but no Mega Ball does not win a prize, which can surprise casual players who assume any two matches produce a payout.
For the complete, official prize breakdown and current rules, the most reliable reference is the game’s own site at Mega Millions.
How much a Mega Millions ticket costs
A Mega Millions ticket costs $5 and includes automatic non-jackpot multipliers. Players can also add the Megaplier for an additional $1, which can increase winnings on eligible non-jackpot prizes. The jackpot itself is not multiplied, but the Megaplier can make mid-tier wins significantly larger when it applies.
How to play Mega Millions
To play, select five numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls and choose one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. A jackpot-winning ticket matches all five white balls plus the Mega Ball. Many players use quick-pick options, while others stick to personally chosen number sets drawing after drawing.
Recent Mega Millions jackpot wins from 2023 to 2025
Recent years have delivered multiple headline-making wins, showing how quickly Mega Millions can jump into the hundreds of millions and beyond. Notable jackpots included $90 million on Dec. 2, 2025 in New Jersey; $980 million on Nov. 14, 2025 in Georgia; and $1.22 billion won on Dec. 27, 2024 in California.
Other major wins in that stretch included $800 million on Sept. 10, 2024 in Texas; $560 million on June 4, 2024 in Illinois; and $1.12 billion on March 26, 2024 in New Jersey. The run of nine-figure prizes underscores why rollover cycles attract so much attention, especially when the jackpot approaches the historical leaderboard.
Where the Feb. 24 jackpot stacks up historically
The all-time Mega Millions highs remain in the billion-dollar range, led by the record $1.58 billion jackpot won on Aug. 8, 2023 in Florida. Other landmark prizes include $1.537 billion in October 2018 (South Carolina) and $1.35 billion in January 2023 (Maine). The current $438 million jackpot sits below those peaks, but it’s large enough to rank among the bigger prizes that typically drive nationwide interest.
Next drawing schedule
After Tuesday’s drawing, Mega Millions returns on Friday at approximately 11 p.m. ET. If no one claims the jackpot on Feb. 24, the prize will roll again, and the advertised top value can increase depending on sales and projected payouts.
