Someone in Michigan is $1 million richer after matching all five white balls in the latest Mega Millions drawing, falling just one number short of winning the estimated jackpot of $650 million on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

The $1 million winning ticket was sold to an online player in Bay City.

No players matched all six numbers needed to win the jackpot, so the estimated jackpot climbs to an estimated $687 million for the drawing on Friday, March 8.

Mega Millions Jackpot Nearly 1 Billion Dollars
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How Does Mega Millions Work?

Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game played in 45 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The only states that currently do not participate are Utah, Nevada, Alabama, Alaska and Hawaii.

Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday. Five white balls ranging from 1 to 70 are randomly drawn, along with a gold "Mega Ball" numbered 1 through 25.

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Players may allow the computer to generate numbers for them (Easy Pick), or they may select their own.

Each play costs $2. Michigan is also one of the states where players may pay an extra dollar to activate the "Megaplier" - another random ball drawn that could multiply non-jackpot prizes anywhere from 2 to 5 times.

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Matching the gold Mega Ball guarantees that a player wins money. If just the Mega Ball is matched and no other numbers on a particular play, the player wins $2. Matching the Mega Ball and one white ball results in a $4 win; the Mega Ball and two white balls is good for $10; the Mega Ball plus three white balls wins $200, and the Mega Ball plus four white balls is $10,000.

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Players who don't match the Mega Ball must match at least three white balls before they can win a prize.

So, When's the Next Mega Millions Drawing?

The next Mega Millions draw happens Friday, March 8 at 11pm Eastern. Players may purchase tickets at an authorized Michigan Lottery retailer, or via the lottery's website.

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Gallery Credit: Chandler Friedman

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