Both big U.S. jackpots are on long runs, but they aren’t growing at the same pace. Since its reset on July 31, the Mega Millions jackpot has added about $16.2 million per drawing. Powerball’s current run, which began Aug. 15, has added about $23.3 million per drawing.
Three reasons
- Draw schedule. Mega Millions draws twice a week, Powerball three times, so each Mega Millions drawing collects about three or four days of sales.
- Ticket price. Mega Millions costs $5 a play and Powerball $2, so a Mega Millions run tends to attract fewer plays for the same spending.
- Jackpot size. Ticket sales tend to jump once a jackpot passes about $500 million. Powerball crossed that mark on Oct. 10. Mega Millions reaches it only on Friday.
How this Mega Millions run has grown
| Drawing | Jackpot | Cash option |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 31 | $50M | $21.5M |
| Aug 14 | $90M | $38.7M |
| Aug 28 | $145M | $61.9M |
| Sep 11 | $209M | $89.7M |
| Sep 25 | $277M | $117.3M |
| Oct 9 | $364M | $147.3M |
| Oct 23 | $433M | $178.6M |
| Nov 6 | $505M | $213.3M |
| Nov 6 | $505M | $213.3M |
The jackpot for Friday, Nov. 6, is an estimated $505 million. Track it on our Mega Millions results page.
More results
Must be 18 or older to play (older in some states). If gambling has stopped being fun, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER. Results are checked against official sources, but the official lottery’s results always govern.