You only need to match one number to win a prize in Mega Millions. This refers to matching the gold Mega Ball, which awards the smallest cash prize.
Winning the Smallest Prize
To win the lowest possible prize of $2 on Mega Millions, you must match the gold Mega Ball drawn. This means even if you don't match any of the five white balls, correctly selecting the Mega Ball will result in a payout. It's the easiest way to ensure your ticket wins "anything."
Understanding Mega Millions Draws
Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game where players select six numbers: five distinct white ball numbers from 1 to 70 and one gold Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. During each drawing, five white balls and one gold Mega Ball are randomly selected. Prizes are awarded based on how many of your chosen numbers match the drawn numbers.
You can find more detailed information on the official Mega Millions website, including drawing times and the latest jackpot amounts, at MegaMillions.com.
Mega Millions Prize Tiers
The amount you win depends on how many numbers you match and whether you matched the Mega Ball. Here's a breakdown of the prize tiers, from the smallest win to the grand jackpot:
| Matched Numbers | Prize | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| 0 White Balls + 1 Mega Ball | $2 | 1 in 37 |
| 1 White Ball + 1 Mega Ball | $4 | 1 in 89 |
| 2 White Balls + 1 Mega Ball | $10 | 1 in 693 |
| 3 White Balls + 0 Mega Ball | $10 | 1 in 606 |
| 3 White Balls + 1 Mega Ball | $200 | 1 in 14,547 |
| 4 White Balls + 0 Mega Ball | $500 | 1 in 38,792 |
| 4 White Balls + 1 Mega Ball | $10,000 | 1 in 931,001 |
| 5 White Balls + 0 Mega Ball | $1,000,000 | 1 in 12,607,306 |
| 5 White Balls + 1 Mega Ball | Grand Jackpot* | 1 in 302,575,350 |
*The Grand Jackpot starts at $20 million and grows until won.
As illustrated in the table, the lowest prize of $2 is awarded solely for matching the Mega Ball. All other prize tiers require matching at least one white ball in addition to the Mega Ball, or multiple white balls without the Mega Ball, with the exception of the 3 White Balls + 0 Mega Ball prize.
How Prizes Are Awarded
When you purchase a Mega Millions ticket, each play costs $2. For an additional $1, players can add the "Megaplier" option, which can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. For instance, if you matched only the Mega Ball with a 5x Megaplier, your $2 prize would become $10. The Megaplier does not affect the jackpot prize.
Winning a prize, regardless of its size, relies purely on chance. Every ticket purchased has the same odds of winning for a given drawing.
