It Appears People Have Forgotten How To Win Powerball, Mega Millions

“Can’t anybody here play this game?” wondered famed baseball manager Casey Stengel.

He was discussing his own team — the 1962 Mets — which, for decades, held the distinction of being, quite simply, the worst team in baseball history.

Stengel’s remark is apropos for two reasons today: One, we are tantalizingly close to the beginning of baseball season, which is the — THE! — harbinger of spring, summer, and all that comes with it.

And two? It’s been 24 drawings since someone last won Powerball, and 14 drawings since someone last won Mega Millions.

Can’t anybody here play this game?

Powerball — which was last won on Saturday, Jan. 18, when a winning ticket was sold in Oregon for $328.5 million — is now up to an estimated $353 million (cash value of $165.7 million) for Wednesday’s drawing.

On Monday, nobody took home the top prize — numbers 17, 40, 47, 50, 55, and a red Powerball of 6 — nor did anyone match all five white balls. In short: No millionaires, sad trombone sound.

Lottery Geeks estimates 10.5 million tickets were sold for Monday’s drawing.

Mega Millions, waiting patiently

Meanwhile, the last Mega Millions jackpot winner was crowned Friday, Jan. 17, and Tuesday’s drawing is up to an estimated $256 million, with a $119.5 million cash value.

Friday’s numbers — 8, 20, 48, 58, 60, and a gold Mega Ball of 7 — did, however, mint a pair of millionaires. One ticket buyer in Washington matched all five white balls to take home $1 million, and a customer in Virginia did the same but added the megaplier to her ticket, which came in at 3x for a $3 million haul. 

Lottery Geeks estimates 14.2 million tickets were sold for Friday’s drawing.

Tickets for either lottery cost $2, with most states offering the multiplier option — which impacts any prize won except the jackpot — for an additional $1.

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. $1.76 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
3. $1.6 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
4. $1.59 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016, won in California, Florida, and Tennessee
5. $1.54 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, won in South Carolina
6. $1.35 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine
7. $1.34 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
8. $1.33 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024, won in Oregon
9. $1.22 billion, Mega Millions, Dec. 27, 2024, won in California
10. $1.13 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024, won in New Jersey

And here’s 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. $794.2 million, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
5. $780.5 million, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
6. $776.6 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, won in Michigan
7. $774.1 million, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
8. $723.5 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine
9. $621 million, Powerball, April 6, 2024, won in Oregon
10. $571.9 million, Mega Millions, Dec. 27, 2024, won in California