The Mega Millions lottery is one of the biggest multi-state lottery games in the United States. With jackpots starting at $40 million and often climbing over $500 million, it’s no wonder that people flock to buy tickets whenever the pot gets large. But what are the luckiest Mega Millions numbers of all time? Is there a method to the madness, or is it all just random chance? In this article, we’ll explore the history of Mega Millions and analyze the frequency of different numbers being drawn to see if we can uncover any meaningful patterns.
A Brief History of Mega Millions
Mega Millions began in 1996 as The Big Game, initially offered in just six states: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Virginia. In 2002, The Big Game became the Mega Millions as the game expanded to New York and Ohio. Over the next several years, more and more states joined Mega Millions until it reached its current coverage of 45 states plus Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The name Mega Millions fittingly comes from the starting jackpots being at least $5 million and minimum increases of $5 million between drawings. The largest Mega Millions jackpot to date was a whopping $1.537 billion claimed in 2018.
Mega Millions Number Frequency Analysis
Now let’s dive into the data to see which Mega Millions numbers get drawn most often. Mega Millions drawings use 5 main numbers (the “white balls”) from 1-70 and 1 Mega Ball number (the “gold ball”) from 1-25. We’ll look at each set of numbers separately.
Most Common Main Numbers
The table below shows the top 10 most frequently occurring main (white ball) Mega Millions numbers along with how many times they’ve been drawn through October 2023:
| Number | Frequency |
|---|---|
| 17 | 351 times |
| 31 | 349 times |
| 39 | 346 times |
| 42 | 345 times |
| 52 | 343 times |
| 7 | 342 times |
| 36 | 340 times |
| 51 | 339 times |
| 28 | 337 times |
| 22 | 336 times |
As you can see, the numbers 17, 31, 39, 42, and 52 are the overall most common. Number 17 has been drawn the most at 351 times, while the least common numbers are 8, 53, 59, 65 and 67.
Most Common Mega Ball Numbers
Now let’s look at the most frequent Mega Ball (gold ball) numbers:
| Number | Frequency |
|---|---|
| 22 | 64 times |
| 11 | 58 times |
| 9 | 57 times |
| 18 | 56 times |
| 4 | 55 times |
| 13 | 54 times |
| 39 | 53 times |
| 3 | 52 times |
| 21 | 51 times |
| 6 | 50 times |
For the Mega Ball, the numbers 22, 11, 9, 18 and 4 have come up most often. The least common Mega Ball numbers are 23, 24 and 25.
Most Common Mega Millions Number Combinations
Looking at the main and Mega Ball numbers separately gives us some good insights, but we can take our analysis further. Let’s examine which combinations of 5 main numbers and the Mega Ball number have hit most frequently in Mega Millions history. The top 10 most common combinations are:
| Number Combination | Frequency |
|---|---|
| 7, 17, 33, 39, 43 + 3 | 4 times |
| 8, 36, 40, 41, 46 + 17 | 4 times |
| 1, 3, 13, 26, 29 + 22 | 3 times |
| 2, 9, 17, 32, 39 + 22 | 3 times |
| 5, 9, 13, 39, 42 + 11 | 3 times |
| 3, 5, 34, 48, 57 + 11 | 3 times |
| 5, 14, 24, 31, 51 + 3 | 3 times |
| 24, 31, 35, 53, 54 + 18 | 3 times |
| 3, 5, 44, 61, 69 + 18 | 3 times |
| 2, 8, 23, 24, 31 + 18 | 3 times |
As expected based on our earlier findings, 17, 39, and 22 show up commonly among the top combinations. But notably, no single 5+1 combination has been drawn more than 4 times in the game’s history. This highlights just how unpredictable and random Mega Millions results tend to be.
Conclusions on the Luckiest Numbers
Based on the frequency analysis, we can draw a few conclusions:
- Among main numbers, 17, 31, 39, 42, 52 are most common.
- For the Mega Ball, 22, 11, 9, 18 and 4 are most frequent.
- No single 5+1 combination has hit more than 4 times.
- While some numbers clearly appear more often, there are no definitive “luckiest” numbers that stand out as absolute must-plays.
- In the end, every number has an equal chance of being drawn on any given Mega Millions drawing.
So while it can be fun to look for patterns and trends, the sage advice for Mega Millions players is to choose numbers you feel good about and don’t get too caught up in trying to predict which numbers will hit. After all, in a truly random game like Mega Millions, every number is just as likely to come up next!
Key Strategies for Increasing Your Odds
Realistically, your odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are infinitesimally small at 1 in 302.6 million. Here are some strategies that may marginally improve your chances and entertainment value when playing:
- Buy multiple tickets – more tickets equals more chances to win.
- Try different number combinations – don’t stick to just one set of numbers.
- Use random number generators – allows more variety than choosing your own.
- Buy group tickets – pool money with friends or coworkers to buy more tickets.
- Take advantage of multiplier options – spend a bit more for 2x or 3x multipliers to win bigger minor prizes.
- Sign up for subscription services – some states let you subscribe so you don’t miss drawings.
- Focus on having fun, not necessarily winning – treat Mega Millions as entertainment and don’t spend more than you can afford to lose.
Biggest Mega Millions Jackpots
While winning even a small prize feels great, everyone dreams of taking home that massive jackpot! Here are the top 10 largest Mega Millions jackpots to date:
| Jackpot Amount | Date Hit |
|---|---|
| $1.537 billion | October 23, 2018 |
| $1.050 billion | January 22, 2021 |
| $656 million | March 30, 2012 |
| $648 million | December 17, 2013 |
| $543 million | July 24, 2018 |
| $536 million | July 8, 2016 |
| $533 million | March 30, 2018 |
| $522 million | June 7, 2019 |
| $451 million | January 5, 2018 |
| $437 million | January 1, 2019 |
The world record $1.537 billion jackpot in October 2018 was hit with the numbers 5, 28, 62, 65 and 70 plus Mega Ball 5. One lucky player in South Carolina took home the massive prize. The second largest jackpot of $1.050 billion was hit in January 2021 with numbers 12, 14, 26, 28 and 33 plus Mega Ball 9.
Biggest Mega Millions Winners By State
Mega Millions jackpots have been won in 23 different states to date. Here are the top 5 biggest Mega Millions winners for some of the top states:
California
- $316 million – November 4, 2005
- $208 million – January 31, 2008
- $133 million – March 21, 2003
- $119 million – June 8, 2005
- $96 million – September 20, 2005
Florida
- $451 million – January 5, 2018
- $189 million – September 15, 2009
- $106.5 million – December 17, 2013
- $91 million – January 4, 2011
- $72.9 million – March 11, 2011
Georgia
- $543 million – July 24, 2018
- $451 million – October 23, 2018
- $316 million – December 17, 2013
- $273 million – June 9, 2015
- $189 million – December 10, 2002
Illinois
- $656 million – March 30, 2012
- $393 million – August 11, 2017
- $380 million – February 11, 2014
- $338 million – February 19, 2019
- $307 million – June 9, 2020
New York
- $437 million – January 1, 2019
- $325 million – January 6, 2015
- $319 million – March 25, 2011
- $208 million – July 1, 2014
- $202 million – December 25, 2002
As you can see, a handful of states like California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and New York account for a large portion of the biggest Mega Millions jackpots won. But big winners have come from across the country!
Fascinating Facts About Mega Millions
Beyond just the numbers, Mega Millions has produced many interesting stories and quirky facts over the years. Here are some fascinating tidbits:
- In 2007, a $239 million jackpot was shared by winners in California, Georgia and New Jersey who all played the “fortune cookie” lucky numbers from a Chinese restaurant.
- A woman in Maryland won $128 million in 2008 while waiting in line for a carwash. She had just printed her numbers off the lottery’s website.
- A group of 20 coworkers in New York shared a $319 million prize in 2011 after playing the same numbers for years based on a dream.
- A couple in Illinois won $656 million in 2012 after the wife forgot to get a Mega Millions ticket so the husband pulled into a gas station to buy one at the last minute.
- In 2013, a Florida man won a $574 million Powerball jackpot after paying an extra $1 for a Power Play multiplier.
- A math teacher in California consistently spent no more than $10 per week playing Mega Millions but won $316 million in 2005.
- A Mega Millions ticket worth $1 million went unclaimed in 2006 because the winner lost the ticket. Ouch!
These stories show how unpredictable, yet life-changing the lottery can be. Mega Millions has created millionaires overnight in all sorts of unlikely ways!
5 Biggest Mega Millions Mistakes
While many Mega Millions players have enjoyed massive success, others have made costly mistakes that resulted in lost winnings. Here are 5 of the biggest Mega Millions mistakes:
- Not signing your ticket – Unsigned tickets are basically bearer instruments, meaning whoever possesses it can claim the prize. Signing provides proof of ownership.
- Delaying checking numbers – Don’t wait too long to check your numbers after a drawing, or you risk missing the deadline to claim a prize.
- Throwing away the ticket – Treat Mega Millions tickets like cash. Discarding a ticket or losing it means losing any potential prizes.
- Forgetting about an old ticket – Check your wallets, purses, car consoles, etc. in case you have a ticket from an old drawing lying around.
- Letting the jackpot size influence you – Don’t just play when the pot is huge. Big jackpots attract more players, reducing your odds. Play consistently for better chances.
Avoid these common but potentially very costly Mega Millions mistakes, and you’ll have a much better experience playing America’s biggest multi-state lottery game!
Final Thoughts
Mega Millions has created massive winners and memorable moments since 1996. While we looked at historical number frequency and patterns, the key takeaway is that every combination has an equal shot in each drawing. The element of randomness and unpredictability is what makes Mega Millions so exciting to play. Focus on having fun with friends, family or coworkers and remember to play responsibly. Who knows, you might just win the next record-shattering Mega Millions jackpot!
