Historic Mega Millions Jackpot: Texas Ticket Claims $361 Million Prize!

In an unprecedented moment of lottery history, a single ticket sold in the heart of Texas emerged victorious in the latest Mega Millions drawing. The numbers aligned perfectly on Friday night, revealing the winning combination of white balls: 12, 24, 46, 57, and 66, with the golden Mega Ball 22. The astounding prize of $361 million, with a cash value of $157.3 million, now rests comfortably in the hands of one fortunate Texan.

This monumental win signifies not only the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever secured in the state of Texas but also the first jackpot win for the Lone Star State since September 24, 2019. The journey to this historic win began with the jackpot rolling and growing since its last triumph, standing at $39 million, which was claimed in Florida on August 15.

The euphoria of this remarkable victory extended beyond the grand jackpot. Across all other prize tiers in the October 6 drawing, a staggering 905,170 winning tickets were secured. Among them, six tickets matched the five white balls, earning the second-tier prize. Notably, two of these tickets, sold in Michigan and New Jersey, struck gold with an additional $3 million each. Their fortune was further magnified by the optional Megaplier, set at 3X for that momentous Friday night. The remaining four Match 5 tickets secured the standard second-tier prize, and they found their new homes in California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Top Jackpots in 2023

October 6, 2023 - $361 million ($157.3 million cash) - Texas.

August 15, 2023 - $39 million ($18.9 million cash) - Florida.

August 8, 2023 - $1.602 billion ($794.2 million cash) - Florida.

April 18, 2023 - $20 million ($10.5 million cash) - New York.

April 14, 2023 - $483 million ($256.9 million cash) - New York.

January 31, 2023 - $31 million ($16.5 million cash) - Massachusetts.

January 24, 2023 - $33 million ($17.4 million cash) - Massachusetts.

January 17, 2023 - $20 million ($10.6 million cash) - New York.

January 13, 2023 - $1.348 billion ($723.5 million cash) - Maine.

Continuing the wave of success, 25 tickets from various corners of the country matched four white balls along with the Mega Ball, securing the third-tier prize. Within this group, three lucky tickets will bask in the glory of $30,000 each, all thanks to the strategic inclusion of the Megaplier. The remaining 22 third-tier winners will cherish their $10,000 rewards.

The 15-drawing jackpot run leading up to this historic moment witnessed over 8.7 million winning tickets across all prize levels. The jackpot itself generated 16 second-tier prizes worth $1 million or more, distributed among 12 different states, from California to New York, proving that fortune can smile upon players nationwide.

The year 2023 has been nothing short of remarkable for Mega Millions enthusiasts, with eight other jackpots already claimed. This includes the awe-inspiring Mega Millions record of $1.602 billion won in Florida on August 8 and another colossal prize of $1.348 billion secured in Maine on January 13. The unpredictable nature of jackpots shone through with two $20 million wins (January 17 and April 18, both in New York), a $31 million and a $33 million victory (both in Massachusetts on January 31 and January 24, respectively), a $39 million windfall (in Florida on August 15), and a staggering $483 million triumph on April 14 in New York.

This year's accomplishment, which marks the ninth Mega Millions jackpot win in 2023, is a remarkable feat not seen since 2014. It signifies the enduring allure and captivating excitement of Mega Millions.