The Mega Millions jackpot for Friday’s lottery drawing has jumped to an estimated $750 million — making it potentially the fifth-largest in U.S. lottery history.
The winning numbers were: 3, 11, 12, 38 and 43. The Mega Ball drawn was 15 with a Megaplier of 4X.
The payout would also be the second-largest since Mega Millions began in 2002.
The last time any lottery player won the top Mega Millions jackpot was Sept. 15, 2020, when a $120 million ticket was sold in Wisconsin. Since then 34 drawings have been held without a top-prize winner.
While no one across the country hit Tuesday’s $625 million jackpot, a ticket sold in Hoboken was one of nine, second-prize tickets bought nationally. All the tickets are worth at least $1 million and matched five numbers but not the Mega Ball.
There were also nine tickets valued at $10,000 apiece purchased in the Garden State, New Jersey Lottery officials said. Each third-prize ticket matched four numbers plus the Mega Ball
The winning numbers drawn Tuesday were: 12, 14, 26, 28 and 33. The Mega Ball drawn was 9 with a Megaplier of 2X.
Two top jackpots were hit in New Jersey in 2020. An anonymous winner claimed the $202 million prize won on Feb. 11 with a ticket sold in Edison and a $124 million ticket was bought in Bayonne for the July 24 drawing.
Mega Millions tickets cost $2 each and in New Jersey must be bought by 10:45 p.m. on the evening of the drawing. The odds of a ticket hitting the jackpot by matching five numbers and the Mega Ball are 302,575,350 to 1. Players have a 1 in 12,607,306 shot to win the second prize of at least $1 million by matching five numbers.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The New Jersey Lottery office in Lawrence is open to the public by appointment. You can still claim your winnings — provided they’re less than $599.50 — in person at any retailer.
The lottery is also accepting mailed claims, though officials warn payments might be temporarily delayed. Winners are advised to make copies of the claim form and the winning ticket for their records.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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