A $227 millionMega Millions jackpot is on the line Tuesday, Sept. 15, offering lottery players a shot at a life-changing prize worth $96.3 million as a lump-sum cash option.
No ticket has matched all six numbers since a Florida player won$800 million
on July 28, sending the jackpot climbing for seven straight weeks. The prize now ranks among the largest lottery jackpots currently up for grabs in the U.S.Here's what to know before tonight's lottery drawing.
What are the winning Mega Millions numbers for Sept. 15, 2026?
USA TODAY will post the winning numbers for Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing shortly after they're announced at 11 p.m. ET.
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 18, at 11 p.m. ET.
Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots
- $1.602 billion on Aug. 8, 2023 in Florida
- $1.537 billion on Oct. 23, 2018 in South Carolina
- $1.348 billion on Jan. 1, 2023 in Maine
- $1.337 billion on July 29, 2022 in Illinois
- $1.269 billion on Dec. 27, 2024 in California
- $1.128 billion on Mar. 26, 2024 in New Jersey
- $1.05 billion on Jan 22, 2021 in Michigan
- $983 million on Nov. 14, 2025 in Georgia
- $810 million on Sept. 10, 2024 in Texas
- $803 million on July 28, 2026 in Florida
luck? Do all lottery winners go bad? We tracked 31 winners to find out.
How to play Mega Millions
Mega Millions tickets can be purchased at convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores and other authorized lottery retailers. Some states also allow players to buy tickets online.
To play, select five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 24. Players who prefer not to choose their own numbers can request a Quick Pick or Easy Pick, which generates numbers at random.
Mega Millions tickets now include a built-in multiplier that automatically increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five or 10 times. Previously, players had to pay extra to add the Megaplier option.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mega Millions jackpot hits $227 million tonight
