TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — Someone in Central Texas is waking up with fuller pockets this weekend.
The Mega Millions jackpot has officially crossed the $1 billion mark after nobody won the grand prize during Friday night's drawing. But that didn't stop a lucky winner south of Austin from claiming $1 million.
According to the Texas Lottery, the ticket was sold at Refuel on FM 1327 in Creedmore and purchased through a quick pick.
It was one of six winners nationwide that won at least $1 million playing Mega Millions on Friday. There were also tickets sold in California, Florida, Illinois, and Nebraska that all matched the five white ball numbers, meaning they won $1 million each. Additionally, a Virginia ticket matched won $2 million because they also had the Megaplier.
The top prize now stands at an estimated $1.1 billion for Tuesday. That's the fifth-largest prize in Mega Millions history and the seventh-largest U.S. lottery jackpot.
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Ahead of Friday night's drawing, the jackpot was estimated to be $977 million. The winning numbers were 3-8-31-35-44, 16 Mega Ball and 3x MegaPlier.
The cash prize, which most jackpot winners select, stands at $525.8 million for Tuesday.
Mega Millions hasn't seen a grand prize winner since December 8, 2023, when two tickets shared a $394 million jackpot.
Last year was a big year for massive lottery jackpots, with two Mega Millions jackpots and one Powerball jackpot each worth over $1 billion.
The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 302,575,350.
Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, March 22, 2024
The winning numbers were 3-8-31-35-44, 16 Mega Ball and 3x MegaPlier.
When is the Mega Millions drawing?
Mega Millions drawings take place on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
What are the largest US lottery jackpots ever?
- $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022 (one ticket, from California)
- $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, August 8, 2023 (one ticket, from Florida)
- $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (three tickets, from California, Florida, Tennessee)
- $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (one ticket, from South Carolina)
- $1.348 billion Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023 (one ticket, from Maine)
- $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022 (one ticket, from Illinois)
- $1.1 billion (estimated), Mega Millions, March 26, 2024
- $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023 (one ticket, from California)
- $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021 (one ticket, from Michigan)
- $842.4 million, Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024 (one ticket, from Michigan)