The $983 million Mega Millions winner took the cash — will someone claim the latest jackpot?
As they say in the lottery business, “it could happen to you.”
After no one matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the Tuesday, Jan. 13, Mega Millions drawing, the jackpot jumped to $230 million with a cash option of $105.1 million for this Friday’s drawing.
Check this story after 11 p.m. ET tonight to see the winning numbers for the Mega Millions drawing on Friday, Jan. 16.
Back to the $983 million Mega Millions winner who rang in 2026 as a multimillionaire: A Mega Millions drawing just before Thanksgiving made someone in Georgia a near-billionaire. Just a few weeks later, the Christmas Eve Powerball for $1.817 billion matched one player’s ticket from Arkansas.
The Georgia Lottery announced Tuesday, Jan. 6, that the $983 million Mega Millions winner came forward. In November, just before Thanksgiving and the start of the 2025 holiday season, Mega Millions drawings were rolling over and increasing in prize, to the tune of a cool $980 million.
A Publix grocery store in Newnan, Georgia sold the winning ticket that matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, Mega Millions drawing. Final sales pushed the total to $983 million, according to the Georgia Lottery.
According to the Georgia Lottery, the ticket-holder, who elected to stay anonymous, selected the cash option, which amounts to $453.6 million before taxes. Just over two weeks later, on Dec. 2, 2025, the Mega Millions jackpot was won again at $90 million.
Below are some frequently asked questions about Mega Millions and Powerball, when winning tickets expire in Florida (it differs by state), and lottery odds. Good luck!
Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, Jan. 16
Mega Millions drawings are at 11 p.m. ET Tuesdays and Fridays, including holidays. Check this story after 11 p.m. ET tonight to see the winning numbers for the Mega Millions drawing on Friday, Jan. 16.
In case you’re wondering, the winning numbers on Tuesday, Jan. 13, were 16-40-56-64-66 and the Mega Ball was 4.
What day is the next Mega Millions drawing?
The next Mega Millions lottery drawing will be at 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.
When was the last Mega Millions jackpot won? How long the jackpot has rolled over
The Mega Millions jackpot was last won when a ticket purchased in New Jersey matched all numbers to win the $90 million prize, with a cash option of $41.9 million on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Below is a recap of lottery drawings for the current rollover streak.
How much is a Mega Millions ticket?
Mega Millions tickets start at $5 apiece.
How long do you have to cash in a Florida Lottery ticket?
Prizes for Florida Lottery must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. To claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days after the applicable draw date to claim it.
How rare is it to win Mega Millions?
The odds of winning are pretty low. According to the Mega Millions site, players have a 1 in 290,472,336 chance to match all five white balls plus the gold Mega Ball.
Does the Florida Lottery reveal lottery winners? Can you stay anonymous if you win lottery in Florida?
According to Florida Lottery’s website, winners cannot remain anonymous: “Florida law mandates that the Florida Lottery provide records containing information such as the winner’s name, city of residence; game won, date won, and amount won to any third party who requests the information.”
However, the site states, the “names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner.”
Lottery experts and lawyers have said there are ways to remain anonymous if you win.
What is the largest Mega Millions jackpot in history? Top 10 highest Mega Millions jackpots
As of Jan. 16, 2026, these are the largest Mega Millions prizes in the history of the game, according to megamillions.com.
What are the biggest Powerball and Mega Millions lottery jackpots ever won?
As of Jan. 16, 2026, there have been 14 lottery jackpots that have reached or surpassed $1 billion. Only once has a jackpot surpassed $2 billion. These are the biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history.
Does Walmart sell lottery tickets? Where to buy lottery tickets in Florida
In Florida, most gas stations and some grocery stores sell lottery tickets. It’s harder to find a gas station that doesn’t sell Powerball, Mega Millions, Florida Lottery, and scratch-off tickets than it is to find one that does.
Publix also sells lottery tickets and is known for selling many winning tickets. A lesser-known location is Walmart. Whether the Walmart location closest to you sells lottery tickets depends on your state and the store. Many Walmart locations in Florida have self-service lottery ticket vending machines or sell lottery tickets at the customer service desk.
You can use the “Where to Play” search tool on the Florida Lottery website to find a grocery store or gas station near you that sells lottery tickets.
(This story will be updated to include new information.)
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Mega Millions jackpot $230 million. See Friday, Jan. 16 winning numbers
Reporting by Lianna Norman and Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
