The Mega Millions jackpot has risen to $900 million. Here are some tips on how to increase your chances of winning, as well as the odds of hitting it big.
Harvard statistician shares best strategies to win the Mega Millions $900 million jackpot
The Mega Millions jackpot has has grown to $900 million, with the option of taking a lump sum of $415.3 million. The next Mega Millions drawing will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT. If you’re interested in purchasing a ticket for a chance to win the billion-dollar prize, below are some tips and the odds of winning the jackpot.
In each Mega Millions draw, ticket buyers must choose six numbers from 1 to 70, corresponding to the white balls, and one number from 1 to 25 for the golden ball, also known as the Mega Ball. You must hit all five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win the jackpot. The probability of this happening is extremely low: 1 in more than 300 million.
While some people recommend mixing odd and even numbers when buying a ticket and high and low numbers, statistically, some numbers appear more than others.
#MegaMillions was not hit tonight.
— Lottify (@LottifyApp) November 8, 2025
Jackpot for Tuesday, Nov. 11 has increased to $900,000,000! 💵🤯💵
Good Luck!
#lottery #lotto #loteria #jackpot pic.twitter.com/QA1vL83ayD
What numbers appear the most?
When looking back at the history of lottery numbers between Sep. 6, 1996 and Aug. 1, 2023, the white ball numbers that have appeared the most are 31, 17, 46, 20, and 10, while the most repeated Mega Ball numbers are 9, 15, 3, 10 and 1.
According to Mark Glickman, a senior statistics lecturer at Harvard University, another tip to win the jackpot is to choose completely random numbers without patterns of any sort.
“No birthdays that have special meaning to you because other people are likely to make those same picks,” he told CBS News.
More tickets = more chances of winning
The Mega Millions, like any lottery, is a game of chance. Glickman suggests that the best way to increase your chances of winning is to buy more tickets, within reason. For example, if the probability of winning the jackpot is 1 in 302,575,350 with one ticket, it becomes 2 in 302,575,350 if you buy two.
Mega Millions: prizes and odds of winning
- Five balls and the Mega Ball – jackpot (1 in 302,575,350 chance)
- Five balls - $1,000,000 (1 in 12,607,306)
- Four balls and the Mega Ball - $10,000 (1 in 931,001)
- Four balls - $500 (1 in 38,792)
- Three balls and the Mega Ball – $200 (1 in 14,547)
- Three balls - $10 (1 in 606)
- Two balls and the Mega Ball - $10 (1 in 693)
- One ball and the Mega Ball - $4 (1 in 89)
- The Mega Ball - $2 (1 in 37)
Related stories
However, it’s important to remember that even if you mathematically increase your odds of winning by purchasing more tickets, the probability of actually winning the jackpot remains extremely small. It would require a significant amount of money to substantially increase your chances.
If you want to win a payout, your best strategy is to buy several tickets with different Mega Ball numbers on each of them. Matching the winning Mega Ball is the most likely way to get a return on your money. However, one should keep in mind that the lottery is a deeply addictive form of gambling and that the odds of obtaining a life-changing sum of money from playing is next to impossible.
Complete your personal details to comment