The amount of money that you get for matching 2 numbers on a Mega Millions ticket depends on the prize tier you match in. The general breakdown is as follows:
In order to win the lowest prize tier, which is $2, you must match at least 2 of the 5 white balls and no Mega Balls. If you match 2 of the white balls and 1 Mega Ball, you will win $10. Matching 2 white balls and 2 Mega Balls will win you $20.
Finally, if you match 3 white balls with no Mega Balls, you will win $10. So in total, by matching 2 numbers on a Mega Millions ticket, you could get anywhere from $2 to $20.
Do you win anything if you get the Mega Ball?
Yes, you can win prizes if you get the Mega Ball. The value of your prize depends on how many numbers you match from the Mega Millions drawing. If you match all five numbers plus the Mega Ball, then you’ve won the Mega Millions Jackpot.
If you match five numbers without the Mega Ball, then you’ve won the second prize, which is a minimum of $1 million. If you match four numbers plus the Mega Ball, you win the third prize which is a minimum of $10,000, and so on.
There are eight prize categories in total, and all prizes are pari-mutuel, meaning the actual prize values depend on the number of tickets sold and the number of winning tickets for each drawing.
What happens when you win the Mega Ball?
When you win the Mega Ball, it means that you have matched all 6 numbers on your ticket. Depending on the state in which you purchased your ticket, the payout for winning the Mega Ball can vary. Generally, winning the Mega Ball will mean at least a million dollar prize.
The exact amount that you can win when you match all 6 numbers is based upon the total amount of money in the Mega Ball jackpot, the number of winners in the drawing, and the payouts from previous drawings.
The process for claiming the prize amount and receiving the money also varies from state to state. After the drawing you have a certain time frame to claim your prize, and you may be required to go into a lottery office or fill out a form to claim your money.
Depending on the size of your prize, it may also be paid out with an annuity, meaning you will receive your money over a period of time instead of in a lump sum.
Does the Mega Ball pay anything?
Yes, the Mega Ball pays prizes when you match it with any numbers drawn. The size of the Mega Ball prize depends on how many numbers you match. For example, if you match the Mega Ball with one other number, you’ll receive the minimum winnings for that game.
The winnings increase with each additional number you match, up to the highest prize available if you match all five numbers plus the Mega Ball. The minimum prize for matching the Mega Ball is typically $2, although some games may offer higher minimum prizes.
How much do you win if you get the Mega Ball with Megaplier?
If you get the Mega Ball with a Megaplier, the amount that you can win will depend on which prize tier you have matched. The Megaplier magnifies non-jackpot prizes 2, 3, 4 or 5 times once the multiplier is drawn.
For instance, if your Megaplier amount is 4 and you played the Megaplier option and win the second prize of $1,000,000, you would multiply the amount of $1,000,000 by 4, which means that you would win $4,000,000.
However, if the Megaplier number is not selected, then you would simply win the original amount of $1,000,000.
How many numbers do you need to win something in Mega Millions?
In order to win something in Mega Millions, a player needs to match five white balls (1 – 70) and one gold Mega Ball (1 – 25). Therefore, a total of six numbers are needed to win in Mega Millions. If the Mega Millions jackpot has not been won for several weeks or months, it will often increase to huge amounts.
In such cases, players need to match all six numbers that are drawn in order to win the jackpot. In addition, there are various other cash prizes offered for matching fewer numbers. For example, players can earn a second prize of $1 million even if they only match five of the six numbers drawn.