The Mega Millions lottery, one of America’s most popular games of chance, drew its latest set of winning numbers on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, sending hopeful players across the country scrambling to check their tickets. With an estimated jackpot of $358 million and a cash option of $164.5 million, anticipation was high for this latest drawing. But for the third consecutive time, no one managed to snag the elusive grand prize, meaning the jackpot is set to climb even higher for the next drawing.
According to DraftKings, the winning numbers for the September 9 drawing were 6, 43, 52, 64, 65, and the Mega Ball was 22. The numbers were drawn at approximately 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time, as is customary for Mega Millions, which holds its draws every Tuesday and Friday night. For those keeping score, the previous drawing on August 26, 2025, also failed to produce a jackpot winner, continuing a streak of rollovers that has captured the public’s imagination—and wallets.
USA TODAY confirmed these results, noting that the $358 million jackpot was accompanied by a $164.5 million cash option, a tempting sum for anyone lucky enough to hold the right ticket. The paper also reminded readers that Mega Millions tickets cost $5 per play, with the option to add a Megaplier for an additional $1, potentially boosting non-jackpot winnings. The Multiplier is included in the price of a single $5 wager, according to megamillions.com.
But what does it take to win? As explained by the Indianapolis Star, a player only needs to match the Mega Ball number to win a prize. The payout for matching just the Mega Ball ranges from $10 to $50, depending on the draw. Matching two numbers won’t win anything unless one of them is the Mega Ball, in which case the prize ranges from $14 to $70. The game’s structure ensures that even those who don’t hit it big have a shot at smaller prizes, keeping millions engaged twice a week.
This week’s drawing was the latest chapter in a year that’s already seen several massive Mega Millions jackpots. According to USA TODAY, 2025 has witnessed notable wins, including a $348 million jackpot in Virginia on June 27, a $344 million prize in Illinois on March 25, and a $112 million win in Arizona on January 17. These impressive payouts are part of a broader trend: over the past three years, Mega Millions has awarded jackpots ranging from $20 million to a staggering $1.58 billion, the latter won in Florida on August 8, 2023.
The historical context is just as thrilling. As reported by DraftKings and confirmed by Gannett, the all-time top Mega Millions jackpots include the $1.58 billion Florida win, a $1.537 billion prize claimed in South Carolina in October 2018, and a $1.35 billion payout in Maine in January 2023. These eye-popping figures have helped cement Mega Millions’ reputation as a game that can change lives in an instant.
So, what happens next? With no grand prize winner announced for September 9, the jackpot will continue to grow. The next drawing is scheduled for Friday, September 12, 2025, at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Lottery officials and news outlets alike urge players to check their tickets against official sources, as these results are considered unofficial until verified by state lottery officials.
For those new to the game, the rules are straightforward but the odds are long. Players select five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. To win the jackpot, all six numbers must match those drawn. As USA TODAY points out, even matching a single Mega Ball can result in a small win, but hitting all six is a feat accomplished only a handful of times each year.
The cost to play remains accessible—just $5 for a standard ticket, with the Megaplier option available for an extra dollar. This affordability, combined with the tantalizing possibility of a life-changing windfall, helps explain why millions participate in each draw. Drawings can be watched live on YouTube, adding to the communal excitement as numbers are revealed in real time.
It’s not just Mega Millions making headlines. Powerball, the other giant of American lotteries, continues to offer massive prizes as well. As of September 10, 2025, Powerball’s jackpot had reached $33 million, with a cash option of $15.2 million, after no one matched all six numbers in the previous drawing. The two games often leapfrog each other in terms of headline-grabbing jackpots, fueling a friendly rivalry and keeping lottery fever high nationwide.
Of course, the odds of winning the Mega Millions grand prize are famously slim—about 1 in 302.6 million. But that hasn’t stopped hopefuls from dreaming big. As one might expect, every news cycle that brings a rollover also brings stories of near-misses, strategies, and the occasional lucky streak. The list of winners from 2023 through 2025 reads like a cross-country tour, with major prizes landing in states from California to Maine, Texas to Illinois.
For those who follow the numbers closely, USA TODAY and DraftKings both provide lists of the most commonly drawn numbers, as well as the largest jackpots in the game’s history. These statistics offer a glimpse into the patterns and possibilities that keep players coming back week after week. Some swear by lucky numbers, others rely on quick picks, but all share the same hope: that this time, the odds might just bend in their favor.
As the next drawing approaches, lottery officials remind players to play responsibly and to check their tickets with official state sources. All trademarks, as DraftKings notes, remain the property of their rightful owners and are used for informational purposes only. And while the lure of a nine-figure jackpot is hard to resist, it’s worth remembering that even a small win can bring a thrill—if not a fortune.
With the jackpot now poised to climb even higher, all eyes will be on Friday’s drawing. Will someone finally break the streak and claim the $358 million prize, or will the pot continue to grow, inching ever closer to the billion-dollar mark? As always, the only certainty is that millions will be watching, tickets in hand, hoping for that life-changing moment.