Will a $2 Mega Millions ticket make you a multi-millionaire – on Friday the 13th of all days? As they say in the lottery world, “It can happen to you” – even on a day that you might consider unlucky.
Earlier this week, a Florida Mega Millions ticket holder got a little richer when his ticket matched five numbers to win $5 million, thanks to the Megaplier.
But because no one had all five digits plus the Mega Ball in the Tuesday, December 10th Mega Millions drawing, we had another rollover for Friday, December 13th or Friday the 13th. Interestingly enough, this lottery series started on Friday, September 13 – the only other Friday the 13th “holiday” in 2024.
Check back after 11pm EST for Friday’s winning numbers.
Within a week, the jackpot rose from $579 million in the Friday, December 6, Mega Millions drawing to $695 million on December 13. The one-time lump sum would be $322 million. While $695 million is a lot of money, it is not in the Top 10 largest jackpots ever in American history (see below).
In case you’re wondering, Tuesday’s winning Mega Millions numbers were 12-14-26-48-52 and the Mega Ball was 21. Megaplier was 5x. Although no one won the big $619 million jackpot in the Tuesday, December 10 Mega Millions drawing, it wasn’t all bad news.
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A Florida ticket won a grand prize, equivalent to 5 plus the Megaplier, for a secondary prize of $5 million. That ticket was purchased at a Publix in Crystal River, Florida, on the state’s west coast near Cedar Key. Whoever chose these lucky numbers won a $5 million prize, and there is a limited time to claim the cash prize or the full amount (see below). Three other tickets – two purchased in California and the other in Maryland – matched five for prizes of $1 million. The deadline to claim this varies because the winners are from out of state.
If this lottery series continues with another rollover, there are still chances for a grand prize winner right before the holidays.
Mega Millions tickets start at $2 each. Below are some frequently asked questions about the game, when winning tickets in Florida expire (this varies by state), and lottery odds. Success!
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What were Mega Millions numbers for Friday, December 13, 2024?
The Mega Millions lottery drawings are on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 PM EST. Check back later for Friday, December 13th or ‘Friday the 13th’ Mega Millions winning numbers. We’ll see if there’s a top prize winner, a secondary ‘match five numbers’ winner, or some other rollover that brings the top prize closer to the $1 billion jackpot.
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When is the next Mega Millions Lottery Drawing?
Mega Millions drawings are on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11pm EST. The next Mega Millions Lottery drawing will take place on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 11:00 PM EST.
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How long have Mega Millions been rolled over?
The latest Mega Millions lottery series kicked off on Friday, September 13, one of two Friday the 13th “holidays” in 2024, after a ticket in Texas won $800 million for matching all five numbers and the Mega Ball. It took just over three months for the $20 million jackpot to roll over to $800 million.
Below is a summary of the lottery draws for this latest series and how the jackpot grew over time.
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Friday, December 13 or Friday the 13th: $695 million
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How long do you have to redeem a winning Florida Lottery ticket?
Florida Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. To claim a one-time payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days of the applicable drawing date to claim it.
What are the chances of winning Mega Millions?
The chance of winning is quite low. According to the Mega Millions site, players have a 1 in 302,575,350 chance of matching all five white balls plus the gold Mega Ball. Prizes range from $2 (for matching the Mega Ball) to the grand prize jackpot, which varies.
Does the Florida Lottery announce lottery winners? Can you remain anonymous if you win the lottery in Florida?
According to the Florida Lottery website, winners cannot remain anonymous: “Florida law requires the Florida Lottery to provide information such as the winner’s name, place of residence, game won, date won, and amount won a third party requesting the information.”
However, the site notes that “the names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or more will be temporarily exempt from disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed unless the winner otherwise relinquishes the prize.”
Lottery experts and lawyers have said there are ways to remain anonymous if you win.
Top 10 Biggest Mega Millions Lottery Jackpots
According to megamillions.com, as of December 13, 2024, these are the largest Mega Millions prizes in the history of the game.
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The largest Mega Millions jackpot won on a single ticket was $1.58 billion on the August 8, 2023, drawing. The final sales brought the top prize to $1.602 billion. The winning ticket was sold at a Neptune Beach, Florida, Publix. Saltines Holdings LLC of Miami, Florida claimed the prize.
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The second largest Mega Millions jackpot was $1.537 billion, won in South Carolina on October 23, 2018.
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$1.348 billion won in Maine on January 13, 2023
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$1.337 billion won in Illinois as of July 29, 2022
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$1.128 billion won in Neptune, New Jersey, on March 26, 2024
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$1.050 billion won in Michigan on January 22, 2021
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$800 million won in Texas on September 10, 2024
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$695 million on December 13, 2024, Friday the 13th? To be determined
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$552 million won in Illinois as of June 4, 2024
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$543 million won in California on July 24, 2018
When did lotto jackpots reach $1 billion or more? How many times have Mega Millions and Powerball lottery jackpots reached $2 billion?
As of December 13, 2024, there have been 11 lottery jackpots that have reached or exceeded $1 billion. Only once has a jackpot exceeded $2 billion.
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Mega Millions Prize of $1.58 Billion, August 8, 2023, Saltines Holdings LLC of Miami, Florida
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$1.537 billion Mega Millions prize, October 23, 2018, won by an anonymous player in South Carolina
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$1.348 billion Mega Millions prize, January 13, 2023, LaKoma Island Investments, LLC, with the ticket purchased in Lebanon, Maine
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$1.337 billion Mega Millions prize, July 29, 2022, won by an anonymous partnership with a ticket purchased in Des Plaines, Illinois
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Powerball Prize of $1.326 Billion, April 6, 2024, Cheng and Duanpen Saephan and Laiza Chao of Oregon
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$1.128 billion Mega Millions prize, March 26, 2024, won by an anonymous winner in New Jersey with the ticket purchased at ShopRite Liquor No. 781 in Neptune Township, New Jersey
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Powerball Prize of $1.08 Billion, July 19, 2023, Yanira Alvarez of California
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$1.050 Billion Mega Millions Prize, January 22, 2021, won by the Wolverine FLL Club of Oakland County, Michigan
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Mega Millions numbers for Friday, December 13, 2024, $695 million
