Powerball, Mega Millions, And … ‘Lilo & Stitch’? Sure, Why Not

Lilo & Stitch is landing in theaters for Memorial Day weekend, and experts think this puppy — well, this alien puppy-like creature — is going to do some boffo box office.

In fact, Box Office Theory is predicting upward of an $124 million opening weekend for the film, which is a cool number for our purposes here today. Why? Because Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing is for an estimated $122 million jackpot, and Saturday’s Powerball is for an estimated $123 million, and — for those scoring at home — $124 million would be the next number.

Woof! Or whatever it is Lilo says. Or Stitch. We’re honestly not sure which is the human, which is the alien. 

We also know that we will know sooner rather than later, as the non-alien-like puppy creatures in the house of this Lottery Geeks scribe are already asking to go see it.

Of course, you practically have to be a lottery winner to go to the movies these days. You see how much a tub of popcorn costs? We may win the lottery and then come up with a battery-operated mini-microwave you can smuggle into a movie theater.

Yes. That’s a brilliant idea.

Meanwhile, Mega Millions: Nobody won Tuesday night’s drawing for an estimated $110 million — numbers 6, 29, 33, 47, 68, and a gold Mega Ball of 20 — nor did anybody hit all five white balls.

Lottery Geeks estimates 4.8 million tickets were sold for the drawing.

Powerball leaps ahead

As for Powerball, nobody won Wednesday’s night’s drawing — numbers 4, 10, 24, 29, 53, and a red Powerball of 4 — though one ticket-buyer in Massachusetts hit all five white balls for a $1 million prize.

Lottery Geeks estimates 8.5 million tickets were sold for Wednesday’s drawing.

Tickets for Mega Millions cost $5, while Powerball tickets cost $2, with most states offering 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. $1.76 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