The highly anticipated Mega Millions drawing for Friday, January 16, 2026, has concluded, leaving the massive estimated jackpot of $230 million (with a cash option of $105.1 million) unclaimed. While the grand prize rolled over, several lucky players secured substantial secondary prizes in the nationwide lottery event.
Excitement builds as the jackpot continues to grow, prompting hopeful players across the US to secure their tickets for the next opportunity to win life-changing money.
The Winning Numbers Revealed
For the drawing held on Friday, January 16, 2026, the official winning combination was:
White Balls: 42, 2, 67, 33, and 22
Mega Ball: 1
No Jackpot Winner Strikes Again
Despite millions of tickets sold, no single entry managed to match all five white balls plus the crucial Gold Mega Ball. This means the $230 million jackpot will roll forward to the next scheduled drawing.
Secondary Prizes Deliver Big Wins
While the grand prize eluded participants this time, the drawing did produce significant winners. Two tickets managed to match all five white balls, securing a $2 million prize each. These fortunate tickets were purchased in North Carolina and Texas. Both winners benefited from the built-in multiplier feature, which automatically increased their Match 5 prize from the base $1 million to $2 million.
What to Know About the Next Drawing
Lottery enthusiasts won't have to wait long for the next chance to play for the elevated jackpot. The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Drawings take place promptly at 11 p.m. ET every Tuesday and Friday.
How to Play Mega Millions
For newcomers or those needing a refresher, playing Mega Millions involves selecting six numbers from two distinct pools. Players choose five different numbers between 1 and 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Ball). Alternatively, the Easy Pick or Quick Pick option allows the machine to randomly generate the numbers.
A standard Mega Millions ticket costs $5 to play. This price includes the new, integrated multiplier feature, which replaces the former Megaplier add-on. This multiplier is randomly assigned at the time of purchase and can increase non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five, or even ten times their base value.
Ticket Purchase Deadlines
Timing is everything when playing the lottery. While deadlines vary slightly by state and retailer type, in jurisdictions like Michigan, in-store and online ticket sales generally remain open until 10:45 p.m. on the night of the draw. Always check your local lottery rules to ensure your ticket is validated before the cutoff time.
Understanding Mega Millions Payout Tiers
The structure of Mega Millions prizes offers numerous ways to win, even without hitting the jackpot. The odds of winning the top prize remain steep at 1 in 290,472,336. However, the odds of winning any prize are much better.
Here is a breakdown of the potential prize structure based on the integrated multiplier:
- Match 5 + Mega Ball: Jackpot
- Match 5 White Balls: $2 million to $10 million (depending on the multiplier assigned)
- Match 4 + Mega Ball: $20,000 up to $100,000
- Match 4 White Balls: $1,000 up to $5,000
- Match 3 + Mega Ball: $400 up to $2,000
- Match Mega Ball Only: $10 up to $50
What Happens If You Win Big?
Should a player finally claim the massive jackpot, they are presented with a critical choice: the annuity or the lump-sum cash payment.
The annuity option provides security by distributing the winnings over 30 years. This includes one immediate payment followed by 29 annual installments, each increasing by 5% over the previous one—a strategy designed to help winners maintain purchasing power against inflation.
The cash option is a one-time, immediate lump-sum payment equal to the total cash value accumulated in the prize pool at the time of the win ($105.1 million for this cycle).
For those eager to check results or see the drawings, winning numbers are typically posted on the official Mega Millions website and various state lottery portals shortly after 11 p.m. ET on drawing nights. Tune in to see if Tuesday brings a new millionaire!
