Mega Millions player just misses $181 million jackpot but still wins big in Georgia
A Georgia lottery player tried their luck at Mega Millions and scored a life-changing prize.
Someone won $1 million after matching five numbers but not the Mega Ball in the drawing Tuesday, Feb. 25, narrowly missing the $181 million jackpot, according to the Georgia Lottery.
The lucky ticket was sold at the High Falls Market convenience store in Jackson, officials said.
The winning numbers were 4-8-11-32-52 and Mega Ball 13, according to the Mega Millions website. The Megaplier option was 2x.
A Mega Millions player in Illinois also won a $1 million prize, though no one hit the jackpot, results show.
The next Mega Millions drawing is Feb. 28 with an estimated $197 million grand prize.
According to the Georgia Lottery, winners have 180 days from the draw date to claim prizes and are encouraged to sign the back of their ticket.
Jackson is about a 50-mile drive southeast from downtown Atlanta.
What to know about Mega Millions
To score the jackpot in the Mega Millions, a player must match all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball. The odds of scoring a jackpot prize are 1 in 302,575,350.
Tickets cost $2 and can be bought on the day of the drawing, but sales times vary by state. Officials have announced they will cost $5 starting in April.
Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET and can be streamed online.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 9:22 AM.