Published on: March 11, 2026, 08:13h.
Updated on: March 11, 2026, 08:13h.
- The Mega Millions prize was claimed on March 10
- A single ticket from Illinois won a staggering $533 million
- The fortunate winner has 60 days to claim a cash option, if they prefer
The inaugural Mega Millions jackpot of 2026 was claimed on Tuesday night, as a single ticket matched all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball.
The winning numbers drawn last night were 16, 21, 30, 35, and 65, with the gold Mega Ball being 7.
According to Mega Millions officials, the $533 million winning ticket was sold in Illinois, although the exact retail location has not been revealed. Players in Illinois have the option to purchase tickets online.
The victor can choose between receiving the total jackpot value spread over 30 annual payments or a one-time cash payment of $244.2 million.
Should the cash option be selected, the amount would dwindle to around $141.8 million after accounting for a 37% federal tax reduction and an Illinois state tax of 4.95%. The annuity option would yield $310.7 million in total.
Illinois saw another winner last night, as another player matched all five white numbers to secure a $5 million prize. This $1 million win was boosted to $5 million by the 5X Multiplier feature.
Lottery Excitement Grows
Mega Millions noted that this is only the second time since its inception that the first jackpot of the year fell in March, missing both January and February. The game is rapidly catching up to Powerball, which has seen two jackpots already this year.
On January 11, a Powerball player won a $209.3 million jackpot in North Carolina, followed by a $250.8 million Powerball win in Arkansas on March 3. This latest Arkansas winner is the second jackpot recipient within a 70-day span.
The likelihood of winning the Powerball jackpot stands at 1 in 292.2 million, while Mega Millions offers a slightly better chance at 1 in 290.4 million.
With last night’s Mega Millions win, the top prize resets to $50 million for the upcoming drawing scheduled for Friday, March 13. Powerball’s current jackpot is set at $58 million for tonight’s draw.
Claiming Prizes in Illinois
In Illinois, winners of Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots wishing to opt for a lump-sum cash payment must claim their prize within 60 days from the drawing date. Those who wait beyond this period will only be eligible for the annuity payout.
Winners have the right to keep their identity confidential, as Illinois Lotto regulations permit anonymity for any prize of $250,000 or more.
The largest prize ever won but never claimed in Mega Millions history was a $68 million jackpot in 2002, sold in New York, where the winner did not step forward.