California, Here We Come? Mega Millions’ $323 Million Jackpot Has Us Thinking About SoCal

With 17 rollovers since the last Mega Millions jackpot win, for a paltry $90 million last Dec. 2, the estimated jackpot for Tuesday night is up to a hearty $323 million.

And when we think of the number “323,” we think of Southern California; the 323 area code covers central and eastern Los Angeles. Got some glitzy, glamorous friend who lives in Hollywood or Beverly Hills? There’s a decent chance they have a 323 phone number. (Although if the number is old enough, it could be a 213. And if it’s new enough, it could be a funky-looking 738.)

As the most populous state in the nation — just shy of 40 million at last census check — California should, in theory, be the one in which the most Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots are hit. But it isn’t the all-time leader in either game (due in no small part to not welcoming Mega Millions until 2005 and Powerball until 2013), although the Golden State is home to the largest and fourth-largest jackpots ever won.

Anyway, there’s a minor dry spell going on in California, particularly in regard to Mega Millions. Of the six jackpots hit in 2025, none of those winning tickets were sold there.

So is a Californian due to win Tuesday night, with the jackpot at that SoCal-appropriate $323 million?

Sure, if you’re susceptible to buying into the Gambler’s Fallacy, the mistaken belief that a random outcome is ever “due” based on past results.

Most recent results

The most recent Mega Millions drawing, last Friday night for an estimated $303 million, saw numbers 11, 34, 36, 43, 63, and gold Mega Ball 13 drawn, and though nobody connected with all six, one lucky player in Florida hit all five white balls and a 3X multiplier to win $3 million before taxes.

Lottery Geeks estimates roughly 6.76 million tickets were sold for that Friday drawing.

Meanwhile, Powerball takes a backseat at the moment, as its estimated jackpot is a mere $80 million for Wednesday night.

A winner was crowned on Jan. 21 in North Carolina (the anonymous winner took the lump-sum cash prize of $95.3 million, good for $68.6 million after taxes), so the Powerball top value is just beginning to build back up, now at five rollovers since that jackpot score.

The latest drawing, on Monday night for an estimated $70 million top prize, saw winning numbers of 3, 8, 31, 60, 65, and red Powerball 4, with two Match 5 millionaires crowned, in Louisiana and Texas.

By Lottery Geeks’ estimates, 7.89 million tickets were sold nationwide for Monday’s game.

Tickets for Mega Millions cost $5 and Powerball tickets cost $2. Most states offer the multiplier option for Powerball, which impacts any prize won, except the jackpot, for an additional $1. Mega Millions comes with an automatic multiplier for any prize except the jackpot.

Both Powerball and Mega Millions are legal in all states except Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. Tickets for both draw games are also sold in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In Puerto Rico, customers can buy tickets for Powerball, but not for Mega Millions.

All-time biggest jackpots

Here is a list of the all-time top 10 U.S. lottery jackpots:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022, won in California
2. $1.82 billion, Powerball, Dec. 24, 2025, won in Arkansas
3. $1.79 billion, Powerball, Sept. 6, 2025, won in Missouri and Texas
4. $1.76 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
5. $1.6 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
6. $1.59 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016, won in California, Florida, and Tennessee
7. $1.54 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, won in South Carolina
8. $1.35 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine
9. $1.34 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
10. $1.33 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024, won in Oregon

Here is the all-time top 10 by lump-sum cash value:

1. $997.6 million, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022, won in California
2. $983.5 million, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016, won in California, Florida, and Tennessee
3. $877.8 million, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, won in South Carolina
4. $834.9 million, Powerball, Dec. 24, 2025, won in Arkansas
5. $820.6 million, Powerball, Sept. 6, 2025, won in Missouri and Texas
6. $794.2 million, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
7. $780.5 million, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
8. $776.6 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, won in Michigan
9. $774.1 million, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
10. $723.5 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine