Illinois Retailer Sells Winning $536M Mega Millions Jackpot Ticket

Bassyonni

Published: March 12, 2026 3:07 PM ET

Illinois Retailer Sells Winning $536M Mega Millions Jackpot Ticket

An Illinois retailer has sold a winning Mega Millions ticket valued at an astounding $536 million. This jackpot marks the first significant lottery win of 2026.

Details of the Winning Ticket

The winning ticket, purchased in Illinois, featured the numbers 16, 21, 30, 35, and 65, along with the gold Mega Ball number 7. This fortunate ticket matched all five numbers, securing the jackpot.

Jackpot Breakdown

Jackpot Amount: $536 million
Cash Option: $244.2 million
Winning Numbers: 16, 21, 30, 35, 65, Mega Ball 7

Illinois Lottery Achievements

This win is historic, as it represents the second-largest prize won by an online lottery player in the United States. Over the past five years, this is the fifth Mega Millions jackpot claimed by Illinois residents. Additionally, Illinois Lottery players have collectively won more than $2.8 billion in Mega Millions jackpots since 2021.

Additional Winners

A separate ticket in the same drawing won a $5 million prize with a 5x multiplier.
Three tickets won $1,000 each, while 18 others won $400.

Winning Odds and Lottery Information

Illinois has celebrated a total of 17 jackpot wins throughout its history. The overall probability of winning any Mega Millions prize stands at 1 in 23, while the odds of hitting the jackpot are significantly steeper at 1 in 290,472,336.

Recent Trends

This year marks a unique occurrence, as it is only the second time in Mega Millions history that a jackpot was not won until March. In contrast, a $1.128 billion jackpot was awarded in New Jersey in March 2024, setting a record for the fewest jackpots won in a single year since the game’s inception in 2002.

Ticket Sales and State Luck

Mega Millions tickets are available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, each priced at $5. Every ticket includes a randomly assigned multiplier that can increase base prize levels by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X.

Interestingly, Illinois recently ranked as one of the luckiest states in the nation, according to the sports betting platform Action Network. It earned the sixth position based on 11 luck factors.