Lottery
Mad numbers! Who won Mega Millions on December 17? Winning numbers and prizes for lottery
The popular lottery jackpot was worth $740 million as we review what happened on Tuesday night.
The Mega Millions jackpot continues to grow, reaching an impressive $825 million ($382.2 million cash) after nobody matched all the winning numbers on Tuesday, December 17. Below we give you details on how you can participate in the next drawing, as well as details on the winning numbers.
To enter the draw, players must purchase a ticket in one of the 47 jurisdictions where Mega Millions is available, including most states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. Participants select six numbers: five numbers between 1 and 70 and one number between 1 and 25.
To win the jackpot, you must match all six numbers drawn – the five white balls and the gold Mega Ball. However, players with fewer matches can still win prizes ranging from $2 to $1 million.
- Check it out: What do I win with 1,2 or 3 Mega Millions numbers?
Mega Millions numbers, December 17
After the jackpot went unclaimed last Friday, this Tuesday’s Mega Millions prize had climbed to $740 million, with a cash value of over $300 million. The winning numbers for the December 17 draw were incredible, if statistically probable:
56-66-67-68-69 − 18 (Mega Ball) 4x (Megaplier)
If you didn’t hit all six numbers, don’t worry. There are still chances to win smaller prizes. Here are the combinations and matches needed to walk away with some cash:
- 5 numbers + Mega Ball: jackpot
- 5 numbers: $1,000,000
- 4 numbers + Mega Ball: $10,000
- 4 numbers: $500
- 3 numbers + Mega Ball: $200
- 3 numbers: $10
- 2 numbers + Mega Ball: $10
- 1 numbers + Mega Ball: $4
- Mega Ball: $2
Mega Millions jackpot payment options
The jackpot winner must choose between two payment methods:
- Annuity: An immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments, increasing by 5% each year.
- Lump sum: A one-time payment of the cash value equivalent.
Both options are before taxes. Once the prize is claimed, a federal 24% withholding tax is deducted. Additional state taxes may apply if the ticket was purchased in a state that taxes lottery winnings or has state income taxes. Additionally, when filing taxes, the winner would fall into the federal maximum tax bracket of 37%.
If you don’t feel lucky, another way to ‘winning’ this sort of money is simply to become one of the best baseball players around...
When are the Mega Millions drawings?
This lottery is available in nearly every state, except Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. It is also offered in the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands but not in Puerto Rico. Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. PT / 10:00 p.m. CT).
The deadline to purchase tickets is typically one to two hours before the draw, depending on the jurisdiction, either in person or online.
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
These are the dates for the next Mega Millions drawings in December:
- Friday, December 20
- Tuesday, December 24
- Friday, December 27
- Tuesday, December 31
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.