The Mega Millions lottery jackpot for the Friday night drawing on March 15, 2024, was an estimated $815 million with a cash option of $385.1 million, according to the Mega Millions website. This jackpot is the sixth largest in Mega Millions history and the 11th largest in U.S. lottery history.

Illustration: powerballjackpot.org

The previous Mega Millions jackpot was won on December 8, 2023, when two California tickets sold at the same location split a $394 million jackpot.

Meanwhile, the Powerball jackpot for the same drawing was at $600 million with a cash option of $285.9 million, according to the Powerball website.

To play Mega Millions, each player selects five numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball. The cost is $2 per ticket, and players can add the Megaplier for an additional $1 to increase potential prizes.

Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.

Mega Millions tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. In certain states, including Arizona, Arkansas, and New Jersey, tickets can be ordered online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 302,575,350-to-1. The odds of matching all five white balls are 12,607,306-to-1.

The states with the most Mega Millions jackpot winners are California, New York, and New Jersey.

The deadline for purchasing a Mega Millions ticket varies by state. It can range from 15 minutes to an hour or more before the drawing. Some third-party lottery apps may have a deadline closer to two hours before the drawing.

Here are the top 10 Mega Millions jackpots ever:

The largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever was a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot won in California on November 7, 2022.