Updated: May 2026 · Data source: NY Open Data (500 most recent draws)
Most players buy a Mega Millions ticket thinking only about the jackpot. But there are 9 different ways to win in every single drawing.
The Complete Mega Millions Prize Chart
Mega Millions draws 5 white balls from 1–70 and 1 Mega Ball from 1–25. You win a prize by matching some combination of those numbers on your ticket.
| Numbers Matched | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 white + Mega Ball | Jackpot | 1 in 302,575,350 |
| 5 white (no MB) | $1,000,000 | 1 in 12,607,306 |
| 4 white + Mega Ball | $10,000 | 1 in 931,001 |
| 4 white (no MB) | $500 | 1 in 38,792 |
| 3 white + Mega Ball | $200 | 1 in 14,547 |
| 3 white (no MB) | $10 | 1 in 606 |
| 2 white + Mega Ball | $10 | 1 in 693 |
| 1 white + Mega Ball | $4 | 1 in 89 |
| Mega Ball only | $2 | 1 in 37 |
Overall odds of winning any prize: 1 in 24
How It Works
Mega Millions draws 5 white balls from 1–70 plus 1 Mega Ball from 1–25. Draws every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM ET.
The bottom three prize tiers all require matching the Mega Ball. With 25 possible numbers your odds of matching it are 1 in 25 — unlocking $2, $4, or $10 depending on white ball matches.
The Mega Ball Is Your Best Friend
The Mega Ball alone gives you a 1 in 37 shot at a free ticket (in the form of a $2 prize). Matching 1 white ball plus the Mega Ball jumps you to $4 at 1 in 89 odds. These are the most realistic ways to see any return on a regular basis.
Because the Mega Ball is drawn from a separate pool, its hot/cold cycle is independent of the main numbers. The generator handles Mega Ball frequency separately — see the Mega Millions hot numbers guide for more.
The $1,000,000 Tier Nobody Talks About
Match all 5 white balls and miss the Mega Ball and you win $1,000,000 cash — odds 1 in 12.6 million, about 24x better than the jackpot. With Megaplier this can jump to $5M if the 5x multiplier is drawn.
Many players focus so hard on the jackpot they forget there's a life-changing million-dollar prize one ball away. The $1M second prize is fixed in cash regardless of jackpot size.
Is Megaplier Worth It?
Megaplier multiplies non-jackpot prizes 2x–5x for $1 extra per ticket. Best use case is on large jackpot nights when the $1M second prize could become $5M on a $3 total spend.
On smaller prizes the math is less compelling — a 2x $10 prize becomes $20, but you've spent an extra $1 to get there. For jackpot-focused play the Megaplier adds cost without changing the top prize.
Mega Millions vs Powerball Prize Structure
| Mega Millions | Powerball | |
|---|---|---|
| Jackpot odds | 1 in 302,575,350 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Second prize | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Third prize | $10,000 | $50,000 |
| Multiplier max | 5x (Megaplier) | 10x (Power Play) |
| Draw days | Tue, Fri | Mon, Wed, Sat |
Powerball edges Mega Millions on jackpot odds (1 in 292M vs 302M) and multiplier ceiling (10x vs 5x). Mega Millions has slightly better overall win odds and the same $1M second prize. See the full Powerball vs Mega Millions comparison.
For entertainment purposes only. No system guarantees a lottery win. Must be 18+. Gamble responsibly.