A single ticket sold in Georgia matched all six Mega Millions winning numbers in the Friday, Nov. 14 drawing, bringing an end to the game’s longest streak without a jackpot winner since its launch in 2002.
The winning ticket claimed an estimated $980 million prize, according to lottery officials. The winning numbers were 1, 8, 11, 12 and 57, with a gold Mega Ball of 7.
Lottery officials said the jackpot will reset to an estimated $50 million for the next drawing on Tuesday, Nov. 18. The jackpot had been growing since June 27, when a ticket in Virginia last claimed the top prize.
The forty drawing run surpassed the previous record of thirty seven set in January 2021, when a $1.050 billion jackpot was won in Michigan.
“Extended roll periods tend to build national attention, and this one generated exceptional interest,” said Maria Ellis, spokesperson for the Multi State Lottery Association. “The length of the streak was unprecedented, but statistically possible.”
One ticket in Michigan matched all five white balls and used a three times multiplier to win $3 million. Another forty eight tickets won third tier prizes by matching four white balls and the Mega Ball, with payouts boosted by multipliers ranging from two to ten times.
Lottery analysts noted that although the odds of winning the jackpot remain fixed at one in 302.6 million, prolonged streaks often occur when player participation surges during high jackpots.
“Large jackpots create what we call a player spike,” said Brian Harper, an independent lottery consultant. “More people buy tickets, but the odds of matching all six numbers do not change. That can extend roll periods instead of shortening them.”
Harper added that the Mega Millions winning numbers from the latest drawing reflect typical distribution patterns. “There is no mathematical advantage in any combination,” he said. “Each number is equally likely to be drawn.”
Economists also pointed to the broader economic impact of record jackpot cycles. States participating in the game often see significant increases in education funding due to rising ticket sales.
“These jackpots can produce tens of millions in additional revenue for public programs,” said Elaine Porter, a professor of public finance at the University of Washington. “The spillover effects are real, especially in states where lottery proceeds fund schools or scholarships.”
Friday’s jackpot ranks among the largest in the game’s history, though it falls short of the record $1.602 billion prize won in Florida on Aug. 8. Other high value jackpots include:
- $1.537 billion won in South Carolina on Oct. 23, 2018
- $1.348 billion won in Maine on Jan. 13, 2023
- $1.337 billion won in Illinois on July 29, 2022
- $1.050 billion won in Michigan on Jan. 22, 2021
The Mega Millions winning numbers triggered substantial secondary payouts. Among the third tier winners.
- Two tickets with a ten times multiplier in New York and Pennsylvania paid $100,000
- Seven tickets with a four times multiplier paid $40,000
- Seventeen tickets with a three times multiplier paid $30,000
- Twenty four tickets with a two times multiplier paid $20,000
The multiplier, known as the Megaplier, is assigned randomly and boosts non jackpot prizes up to ten times their base value.
In Atlanta, where the winning ticket was sold, residents reacted with surprise and excitement.
“It’s unbelievable that someone here could wake up a multimillionaire,” said Derrick Jackson, a local shop owner whose store saw heavy ticket sales during the jackpot run.
“People were lined up all week. Everyone felt like this might be the one.” Linda Cross, a resident who bought several tickets in recent weeks, said she was glad to see the long drought end.
“I didn’t win, but I kept checking the Mega Millions winning numbers every draw,” she said. “It was becoming a routine. I’m happy someone hit it.” Lottery retailers also reported elevated sales during the streak.
“We have not seen this level of foot traffic since the last billion dollar jackpot,” said Priya Mehta, manager of a convenience store in Savannah. “Even people who don’t usually play were coming in.”
The next drawing on Tuesday, Nov. 18 will feature a reset jackpot of $50 million, or roughly $23.2 million in cash value. Lottery officials expect sales to dip in the immediate aftermath of the historic win but rise again once the jackpot begins climbing.
“Player interest tends to stabilize around mid sized jackpots,” Ellis said. “We will likely see momentum build again if it rolls several times.”
Analysts also predict ongoing national engagement with large multi state lotteries as economic conditions push consumers toward entertainment spending.
The Nov. 14 drawing marked a significant moment for the national lottery system, ending a record forty draw drought with a Georgia ticket claiming nearly a billion dollars.
As players return to checking the Mega Millions winning numbers for the next drawing, the game enters another cycle of anticipation and possibility, with the jackpot reset and the odds unchanged.