The Illinois Lottery’s Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to $637 million for Tuesday’s drawing, marking the latest prize in a streak that has drawn national attention. The estimated cash value stands at $278 million before taxes, with the drawing scheduled for 11 p.m. ET at 10 p.m. CT on July 14.
The swelling prize reflects 31 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner. When no ticket matches all six numbers in a Mega Millions drawing, the unclaimed prize money rolls over to the next drawing, accumulating with ticket sales from new players. According to lottery officials, the jackpot increases by a minimum of $5 million each time there is no winner, creating the conditions for these large prizes to build over weeks or months.
Tickets cost $5 per play. To win the jackpot, a player must match all five main numbers plus the Mega Ball. Drawings are held twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays across participating states and the District of Columbia.
The $637 million prize remains well below the all-time record for Mega Millions. On August 8, 2023, a single ticket sold in Florida won $1.602 billion after 31 consecutive drawings without a winner, according to the official Mega Millions website. That prize surpassed the previous record of $1.537 billion, won in South Carolina on October 23, 2018. The August 2023 winner matched all six numbers and claimed the prize as an annuity.
While large jackpots attract more players, the odds of winning remain unchanged regardless of the prize size. The probability of matching all six numbers in a single play is approximately 1 in 302.6 million, according to Mega Millions rules. Non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by a built-in multiplier ranging from 2X to 10X, which is randomly assigned at the time of purchase.
Sources
- Illinois Lottery — Confirmed the $637 million jackpot and drawing date of July 14, 2026 at 9:45 p.m. CT
- Mega Millions Official Site — Provided cash option of $278 million and drawing time of 11 p.m. ET
- ABC Columbia — Reported the $637 million jackpot and cash option details
- Smart Luck — Explained that jackpots increase by a minimum of $5 million when there is no winner
- Ohio Lottery — Confirmed drawings are held at 11 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays
- Mega Millions Official Site (Jackpot History) — Documented the $1.602 billion August 8, 2023 Florida jackpot as the largest in history
- AP News — Verified the $1.602 billion Mega Millions jackpot as the third-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever
