On Friday, June 27, 2025, a lucky lottery player in Virginia struck gold by matching all six numbers in the Mega Millions drawing, claiming the staggering $348 million jackpot. The winning numbers for that night were 18, 21, 29, 42, 50, with the Mega Ball being 2. This monumental win marks the 11th Mega Millions jackpot ever won in Virginia and comes with a cash option estimated at $155.5 million.
The Mega Millions lottery, known for its bi-weekly drawings every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time, has captivated millions of Americans with its life-changing jackpots. The June 27 jackpot was especially notable, as it had been rolling since April 18, 2025, when a $112 million prize was won in Ohio. After no jackpot winner emerged on June 24, the prize pool swelled by $22 million, culminating in the $348 million prize that was finally claimed on June 27.
Players buy tickets for $5 each, a price increase from the previous $2 that took effect on April 8, 2025, alongside other significant game changes. One of the most notable updates is the inclusion of a built-in multiplier with every ticket, which can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5, or even 10 times. This multiplier is randomly assigned at the time of purchase and adds an extra layer of excitement to the game.
To play Mega Millions, participants select five numbers from a pool of 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 24. Alternatively, players can opt for a Quick Pick, where numbers are randomly generated. The odds of winning the jackpot by matching all five white balls plus the Mega Ball stand at a staggering 1 in 290,472,336, underscoring just how rare such a win truly is.
Non-jackpot prizes have also seen substantial increases since the game’s update. For example, matching five white balls without the Mega Ball now awards between $2 million and $10 million, a significant jump from the previous $1 million prize. Other prize tiers have similarly risen, with payouts ranging from $10 for matching just the Mega Ball up to $100,000 for matching four white balls plus the Mega Ball.
The winning ticket’s exact location in Virginia has not been publicly disclosed, but the state has a storied history with Mega Millions, having produced ten previous jackpot winners. This latest victory resets the Mega Millions jackpot to a guaranteed $50 million for the next drawing on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, which will have a cash option of approximately $22.4 million.
Ticket sales for Mega Millions close at varying times depending on the state, generally between 15 minutes to an hour before the drawing. For instance, in New Jersey, ticket sales end at 10:45 p.m. Eastern Time for the 11 p.m. drawing. Tickets are widely available at gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and some airport terminals. Additionally, online purchases can be made in select states via official lottery courier apps like Jackpocket, which offer a convenient way to participate without visiting a physical store.
For jackpot winners, there are two payout options: an annuity or a lump-sum cash payment. The annuity is paid as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments, each increasing by 5% to help protect winners from inflation and maintain purchasing power over time. The lump-sum cash option offers a one-time payment equal to the prize pool’s cash value but is significantly less than the advertised jackpot amount.
While some states allow lottery winners to remain anonymous, others require disclosure of winners’ names and locations. For example, New Jersey permits anonymity under a law signed by Governor Phil Murphy, but in Florida, winners’ names and cities become public record, though winners of prizes above $250,000 receive a 90-day temporary exemption from disclosure.
Looking at the broader history of Mega Millions, the June 27, 2025 jackpot ranks among the largest, though it still trails the all-time biggest prize of $1.58 billion won in Florida on August 8, 2023. Other massive jackpots include $1.537 billion won in South Carolina in 2018 and $1.348 billion in Maine in 2023. The Mega Millions and Powerball games have collectively seen twelve jackpots surpass the billion-dollar mark, with the largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever being a $2.04 billion Powerball prize claimed in California in November 2022.
As the Mega Millions jackpot resets to $50 million for the July 1 drawing, excitement continues to build for players across 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. With ticket prices at $5 and the new multiplier feature enhancing non-jackpot prizes, the game remains one of the most popular and thrilling ways Americans dream of hitting it big.
Whether you’re a seasoned player or a first-timer, the Mega Millions lottery offers a chance—albeit slim—to transform a modest $5 ticket into a life-changing fortune. As always, players are reminded to play responsibly and enjoy the thrill of the game without overextending themselves.
