How to pick the best numbers for mega millions

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Mega Millions jackpot is currently $1.28 billion--or $747 million in whopping lump sum payment.

Yes, you could play your kids' birthdays, or your anniversary, or some similar combination.

But with more than a billion dollars on the line,  some research might be in order. After taxes, according to lottostrategies, a single Illinois winner could collect about $523 million. (This number is based on Friday's midday jackpot figures, which could still grow before Friday night's drawing.) 

According to USA Mega, here are the most common numbers drawn based on the past 100 drawings: 7, 21, 40, 3, 58.

The most common Mega Ball is 24.

For those who are looking for the least common numbers: 23, 50, 54, 67, 49.

The least common Mega ball is 7. It hasn't been drawn a single time in the past 100 drawings. 

Of course choosing your numbers or relying on the machine to pick them does not change your odds of winning the jackpot. which are 1 in 302,575,350.  For comparison, you have about a 1 in 2 million chance of getting attacked by a bear, according to the National Park Service. 

There was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday Mega Millions drawing, but 9 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize, including one ticket purchased in Illinois.  

Tonight’s Mega Millions drawing is set to be one of the most-sold ever as the jackpot has topped $1 billion for the third time in US history.

Nobody won the $810 million jackpot on Tuesday night, meaning the total has soared to a whopping $1.02 billion and one lucky winner could take home $602.5 million cash.

It’s the 30th draw in this jackpot run which began April 19 after the prize was won by a resident in Tennessee on April 15th.

Launched in 2002, the American lottery game reached $1.53 billion in October 2018 and $1.05 billion in January 2021, and another rollover could bring the biggest jackpot ever.

Millions are buying tickets online and in store to be in with a chance of winning the massive sum, but what are the best numbers to pick?

Read on to find out…

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The best Mega Millions numbers

Some people choose important dates in their life, like birthdays and anniversaries, but others prefer to be a little more tactical with their choices – especially when there’s over $1 billion at stake!

One option is to choose the most drawn numbers, which according to USA Mega are 17, 10, 14, 31 and 4 based on the last 495 drawings since Tuesday, October 31, 2017.

The most commonly chosen Mega Ball numbers are 22, 11 and 24 – so any of these are statistically more likely to be drawn.

Another tactical option is to choose the least commonly chosen numbers as they’ve got to come up at some point, right?

The least common Mega Millions numbers are 50, 35, 49, 55 and 51, which tells us that numbers in the 50s seem to be chosen far less often.

In terms of Mega Balls, the least common are 8, 23 and 7. So, there’s a chance these could come up in tonight’s drawing.

Remember that your chance of winning the Mega Millions is one in 302 million no matter which numbers you choose – so don’t overthink it too much.

How to play Mega Millions

To play Mega Millions, you need to pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25.

Tickets cost $2 and can be bought in many local shops and online. The game can be played in 45 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

You can choose the numbers yourself or select them at random and they are recorded on your ticket. Then, you use the ticket to claim your prize if you win.

To win the jackpot, you must match all six winning numbers including the five normal ones and the Mega Ball, but there are also lots of other ways to win.

For example, if you only match the Mega Ball, you will win $2, whilst matching five normal numbers will win you $1 million. 

Most states also offer a Megaplier option that costs $1 extra and increases non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times depending on which Megaplier is drawn. 

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Your last chance to buy tickets

To be in with a chance of winning tonight’s huge jackpot, you can buy tickets right up until 15 minutes before the draw.

The numbers are drawn at 11 pm ET on Tuesday and Friday, so tickets can be bought until 10:45 pm online and in stores.

The easiest way to purchase a ticket is by heading to the Mega Millions website and selecting your state, which will then take you to the relevant ticket-buying site.

However, tickets can also be bought in shops across America including Walmart, CVS, 7-Eleven and lots of local convenience stores.

If you are lucky enough to win the jackpot, you can choose to take one lump sum or an annuity option which means the jackpot is paid in one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments.

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