Mega Millions odds
With one play, the chance of winning the Mega Millions jackpot is 1 in 290,472,336. The chance of winning any prize is 1 in 23.07.
- $5 a play
- 5 of 70 + 1 of 24
- 2 draws a week
The odds of every prize
| Numbers matched | Chance per play | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Mega Ball | 1 in 290,472,336 | Jackpot |
| 5 | 1 in 12,629,232 | $2,000,000 to $10,000,000 |
| 4 + Mega Ball | 1 in 893,761 | $20,000 to $100,000 |
| 4 | 1 in 38,859 | $1,000 to $5,000 |
| 3 + Mega Ball | 1 in 13,965 | $400 to $2,000 |
| 3 | 1 in 607 | $20 to $100 |
| 2 + Mega Ball | 1 in 665 | $20 to $100 |
| 1 + Mega Ball | 1 in 85.81 | $14 to $70 |
| Mega Ball only | 1 in 35.17 | $10 to $50 |
| Any prize | 1 in 23.07 |
Every $5 play comes with a random multiplier of 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 on every prize except the jackpot, so the table shows each prize as a range. The multiplier averages 3.
Draws: Tuesday and Friday.
What 1 in 290,472,336 means
Playing one line in every draw, 2 draws a week, you would wait on average about 2.8 million years for the jackpot.
About 66% of winning plays win only the smallest prize, $10 to $50.
How the odds are worked out
There are 12,103,014 ways to choose 5 numbers from 70, and 24 ways to choose the Mega Ball, so there are 290,472,336 different plays. Exactly one wins the jackpot.
To match k of your 5 numbers, you need k of the 5 numbers drawn and 5 − k of the 65 numbers not drawn. That is C(5, k) × C(65, 5 − k) combinations, and the chance is that count divided by 12,103,014.
The Mega Ball is drawn separately, so its chance multiplies the one above.
Checked against the official figures
Every chance on this page is computed from the rules of the game and compared with the odds the operator publishes. If a single figure differs, the page is not published.
- Mega Millions, how to play, checked 3 November 2026
- Mega Millions game rules, Iowa Lottery, checked 3 November 2026
Questions
What are the odds of winning Mega Millions?
With one play, the chance of the jackpot is 1 in 290,472,336 and the chance of any prize is 1 in 23.07. The table above gives the chance of every prize.
Does buying more tickets improve my odds?
Only a little. Each different line adds one more chance in 290,472,336. Ten lines make the jackpot chance 1 in 29,047,234, at ten times the cost.
Are some numbers luckier than others?
No. Every combination has exactly the same chance in every draw, and past draws do not affect the next one. Popular numbers, such as birthdays, only change how many people you would share a prize with.
Mega Millions® is run by a group of US state lotteries. TrainYourOdds is independent and not connected with any lottery operator.