Illinois Player Claims $533 Million Mega Millions Jackpot

An Illinois lottery player claimed the 533 million dollar Mega Millions jackpot in the drawing held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, marking the first grand prize awarded in the game this year. The winning ticket, purchased online through the state's iLottery platform, matched all five white balls, 16, 21, 30, 35 and 65, along with the Mega Ball of 7.

The victory ends a jackpot run that had grown over several weeks, surpassing the half-billion mark before the draw. Officials confirmed the win late Tuesday, noting it as the second-largest prize ever secured by an online player in the United States. The unidentified winner has one year from the drawing date to claim the prize and can opt for a 30-year annuity or a one-time lump-sum payment of approximately 244.2 million dollars before taxes.

Illinois saw multiple significant wins in the same drawing. Another iLottery player matched the five white balls and the Mega Ball but added a 5x Megaplier option, boosting their prize to 5 million dollars. Across the country, two other tickets matched the five white balls for 1 million dollars each, with one of those enhanced to 3 million dollars via the Megaplier. In Maryland, a ticket sold at a...