Mega Millions guide: rules, prizes, tax and claiming
Understand United States's Mega Millions: number format, prize tiers, eligibility, claiming, tax cautions and official winner-location coverage.
What kind of lottery is it?
Mega Millions asks players to select 5 main numbers from 1 to 70. It also uses 1 bonus number from 1 to 24. Every valid play and draw is independent; historical frequency does not predict the next result.
Number format and winning
Representative prize matches include Jackpot · Match 5 · Match 4 + Mega Ball. The official game rules remain final for the full tier table, prize allocation, rollovers and bonus mechanics.
Eligibility and claiming prizes
Age limits, online eligibility, foreign-player rules, claim locations and deadlines follow the selling jurisdiction. Protect the original ticket and do not rely on an unauthorized courier or resale website's promise to pay.
Tax and estimated take-home prize
Federal, state and nonresident withholding depends on the winner's status and the selling jurisdiction.
Winner locations and official data
An official winner-retailer location is not published or has not yet been verified. World Lottery Map does not create estimated pins.
Last reviewed 2026-08-21. Rules and tax treatment can change; recheck the official source before claiming.