The Mega Millions drawing on Friday, February 20, 2026, offered a staggering jackpot of $416 million, but once again, fortune eluded hopeful players across the country. The winning numbers—15, 40, 48, 58, 63, with the gold Mega Ball 2—failed to produce a jackpot winner, according to reporting from the Detroit Free Press, USA TODAY, and other outlets. The result? The jackpot rolls over, now swelling to an estimated $438 million for the next drawing, scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 11 p.m. ET.
This latest rollover continues a streak that has captured the imagination of millions since the last Mega Millions jackpot was claimed on December 2, 2025. That prize, a comparatively modest $90 million, went to a single ticket holder in New Jersey, who opted for a $41.9 million cash payout. Since then, the pot has grown with every drawing, fueled by the dreams and dollars of hopeful players from Florida to New York and beyond.
The current $416 million jackpot comes with a cash option of $193.1 million before taxes—a life-changing sum by any measure. Yet, as the odds remind us, becoming a Mega Millions multimillionaire is a long shot. The probability of matching all five white balls (numbers ranging from 1 to 70) and the gold Mega Ball (numbered 1 to 24) is a daunting 1 in 290,472,336, according to the official Mega Millions website and reiterated by USA TODAY. For perspective, you’re more likely to be struck by lightning, bitten by a shark, or even become president than to snag the top prize. Still, as lottery officials like to say, “it could happen to you.”
For those eager to try their luck, a Mega Millions ticket costs $5—a price increase from the previous $2 that took effect in April 2025. The ticket price now automatically includes a built-in multiplier, a feature that replaced the popular Megaplier. This multiplier, randomly assigned for every play, can boost non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five, or even ten times, adding extra excitement for those who match fewer than all six numbers. The multiplier is printed on each ticket at purchase, ensuring every player has a chance at a bigger win, even if the jackpot remains elusive.
Players have a variety of ways to select their numbers. They can choose five white ball numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball from 1 to 24, or opt for the Easy Pick/Quick Pick feature, letting the computer randomly generate their numbers. Tickets are available at convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, and, in some states, online. In Florida, for instance, tickets can be purchased at most gas stations, Publix supermarkets, and even some Walmart locations, as noted by USA TODAY. Each state sets its own cutoff times: in Michigan, sales close at 10:45 p.m. on draw nights, while in New York, the deadline is 10 p.m., and in New Jersey and Connecticut, it’s 10:45 p.m.
So, what happens if you do hit the jackpot? Winners have a choice: take the annuity, which is paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments, each increasing by 5% to help keep pace with inflation, or opt for a single, lump-sum cash payment. As the Mega Millions website explains, “This helps protect winners’ lifestyle and purchasing power in periods of inflation.” If more than one person matches all six numbers, the jackpot is split equally among all winning tickets.
It’s not just the jackpot that can change lives. Mega Millions offers a range of prizes for matching fewer numbers, all of which can be multiplied if the built-in multiplier lands in your favor. For example, matching five white balls without the Mega Ball can net you between $2 million and $10 million, depending on the multiplier. Matching four white balls and the Mega Ball can bring in $20,000 to $100,000, and even matching just the Mega Ball can win you up to $50. The full prize structure is detailed on the Mega Millions website and reported by both Detroit Free Press and USA TODAY.
For those who do win big, the process of claiming a prize can vary by state. In Florida, winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prize, but if they want the lump-sum cash option, they must do so within the first 60 days. Transparency is a hallmark of the Florida Lottery: while winners’ names and details are generally public record, those who claim prizes of $250,000 or more are granted a 90-day window of privacy before their information is released, unless they choose to waive this exemption.
The Mega Millions game has a storied history of massive jackpots. The largest ever was a jaw-dropping $1.58 billion, won on August 8, 2023, by a ticket sold in Florida. Other record-setting prizes include $1.537 billion in South Carolina in 2018, $1.348 billion in Maine in 2023, and $1.337 billion in Illinois in 2022. These headline-grabbing sums have helped fuel the game’s popularity, with each rollover drawing more players and higher stakes.
It’s not just Mega Millions making headlines. The Powerball jackpot currently sits at $190 million, according to the Powerball website, offering another opportunity for lottery enthusiasts to try their luck. Both games are part of a broader American lottery culture that, despite astronomical odds, continues to inspire dreams of sudden wealth and new beginnings.
For those who want to check their tickets, the winning numbers are posted on the Mega Millions website, on the Michigan Lottery and Florida Lottery sites, and can be watched live on YouTube. Social media channels like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, and Facebook also carry updates, ensuring no one misses their chance to claim a prize.
As the jackpot climbs to $438 million for the next drawing, excitement is sure to build. Will someone finally break the streak and claim the massive prize, or will the pot continue to grow, capturing even more imaginations? Only time—and a little bit of luck—will tell.
For now, the nation waits, tickets in hand, hoping that the next set of numbers will turn a dream into reality.