Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, Oct. 31, 2025: jackpot rolls to $800 million for next drawing
If you stayed up for the Halloween Mega Millions draw, here are the results you need. No ticket matched all six numbers on Friday night, pushing the multistate jackpot into eye-popping territory for the first drawing of November.
Tonight’s Mega Millions numbers (10/31/2025)
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Winning numbers: 2 – 24 – 52 – 66 – 68
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Mega Ball: 9
Initial checks show no jackpot winner, which means the top prize rolls to an estimated $800 million for the next draw. The cash option is estimated around $371.7 million before taxes. Lower-tier prizes—ranging from $2 to $1 million (or more with Megaplier, where available)—will be paid out to tickets that matched portions of the combination.
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
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Date: Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025
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Time: 11:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. PT; 3:00 a.m. GMT Wednesday)
Sales cutoffs vary by state or jurisdiction, typically 15 minutes to an hour before the draw. If you play near the deadline—especially online or at high-traffic retailers—build in extra time.
How to check your ticket and what to do if you’ve won
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Match the line, not the playslip. Verify the numbers printed on your ticket against the draw results above.
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Look for all prize tiers. Don’t stop at five-of-five checks; smaller combinations still return money, and Megaplier (if you bought it) can multiply non-jackpot prizes.
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Sign the back immediately. This helps establish ownership.
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Photograph or scan both sides. Keep digital copies and store the physical ticket in a safe place.
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Confirm with your lottery. Use the official app, terminal scanner, or customer service for validation before you make public announcements.
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For big wins, assemble a team. Consider an attorney, tax professional, and financial advisor experienced with sudden-wealth planning.
Quick refresher: how Mega Millions works
Players select five numbers from 1–70 and a Mega Ball from 1–25 (some states list 1–24; the key is the number printed on your ticket). The jackpot is won by matching all six. There are nine prize tiers in total, so millions of smaller prizes are awarded even when the top payout rolls. Overall odds of winning any prize are roughly 1 in 24; the jackpot odds are around 1 in 302 million.
Taxes, anonymity, and timing
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Taxes: Federal withholding generally applies to large prizes, and many states levy additional taxes. Actual liability can differ from the initial withholding, so plan for the April filing.
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Anonymity: Rules vary. Some states permit anonymous claims or allow trusts/LLCs; others require a public name and hometown. Check your jurisdiction before you claim.
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Deadlines: Claim periods typically range from 90 to 180 days (longer in a few states). Don’t wait until the last week—processing for large prizes takes time.
Strategy for the next draw (fun, not guarantees)
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Set a budget and stick to it. Treat tickets as entertainment.
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Use group pools carefully. Put agreements in writing, list members, contributions, and how you’ll split add-ons like Megaplier.
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Keep ticket custody clear. One person buys; everyone gets a copy of the ticket and the receipt.
If you’re outside the U.S. or traveling
Draw time is 11:00 p.m. Eastern. For quick conversions: that’s 8:00 p.m. PT, 4:00 a.m. CET Wednesday, and 6:00 a.m. in Cairo on Wednesday. Purchase rules, availability, and claim procedures differ by jurisdiction; only buy through authorized channels where you are physically located.
Friday’s Mega Millions numbers were 2, 24, 52, 66, 68 with Mega Ball 9, and the jackpot continues—up to about $800 million on Tuesday. Check every line on your ticket, claim smaller wins promptly, and if lightning strikes, move thoughtfully and protect your ticket first.
