Mega Millions $1.337 Billion Jackpot: Winning Numbers, Winner & What Happened
Lottery history · Mega Millions · July 2022
Updated August 12, 2026 · Historical article refreshed with final results and current game rules
The Mega Millions jackpot advertised at $1.28 billion for the July 29, 2022 drawing ultimately finished at $1.337 billion. One ticket sold in Des Plaines, Illinois matched all six numbers. The prize was later claimed by an anonymous partnership that chose the $780.5 million cash option.
The short answer: what happened to the $1.28 billion Mega Millions jackpot?
The drawing took place Friday, July 29, 2022. The winning white balls were 13, 36, 45, 57 and 67, and the Mega Ball was 14. Only one ticket matched all six numbers. It had been purchased at the Speedway at 885 E. Touhy Avenue in Des Plaines, Illinois.
The $1.28 billion figure widely reported before the drawing was an estimate. After actual ticket sales were counted, Mega Millions raised the final jackpot to $1.337 billion, with a $780.5 million cash value. In September 2022, the Illinois Lottery confirmed that the ticket was claimed by a partnership whose members had agreed to split the prize. They chose to remain anonymous and took the lump-sum cash option.
That makes the old version of this page more than a little outdated: the winner is no longer unclaimed, the final prize was larger than $1.28 billion, and Mega Millions itself changed substantially in April 2025. The historical drawing is still remarkable, but the current game no longer uses the same ticket price, Mega Ball matrix, jackpot odds, or prize structure.
A timeline of the $1.337 billion jackpot
A $20 million Mega Millions jackpot was won in Tennessee. The next jackpot run began with the following drawing.
Drawing after drawing passed without a jackpot winner. The prize climbed into nine figures and eventually above $800 million.
Strong last-minute sales pushed the estimated jackpot to $1.28 billion before the drawing. One Illinois ticket matched all six numbers.
Mega Millions announced the final jackpot was actually $1.337 billion based on actual sales, with a $780.5 million cash value.
The Illinois Lottery announced that an anonymous partnership had claimed the prize and selected the $780.5 million lump-sum option.
The Illinois prize remains the largest lottery prize ever won in the state and the fourth-largest Mega Millions jackpot in game history.
Why the jackpot changed from $1.28 billion to $1.337 billion
Lottery jackpots advertised before a drawing are estimates. Mega Millions bases them on projected sales and the amount available to fund the prize. When sales surge—especially during the final hours before a billion-dollar drawing—the final jackpot can end up larger than the estimate.
That is what happened in July 2022. The pre-drawing estimate was $1.28 billion, but Mega Millions and the Illinois Lottery announced the final annuity value as $1.337 billion after sales were finalized. The cash option was $780.5 million.
Who won the 2022 Mega Millions jackpot?
The public still does not know the winners’ identities. Illinois permits winners of prizes of $250,000 or more to request anonymity. The Illinois Lottery disclosed only that the jackpot was claimed by a partnership whose members had agreed to share the prize if they won.
The winners spent several weeks working with legal and financial advisers before claiming the ticket. They selected the $780.5 million cash option rather than the annuity. The Speedway that sold the winning ticket received a $500,000 retailer bonus.
Where does the $1.337 billion jackpot rank now?
When it was won, the Illinois jackpot was the second-largest Mega Millions prize ever. That is no longer true. By July 2026, Mega Millions listed it as the fourth-largest jackpot in the game’s history.
| Rank | Jackpot | Date | Winning jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.602 billion | Aug. 8, 2023 | Florida |
| 2 | $1.537 billion | Oct. 23, 2018 | South Carolina |
| 3 | $1.348 billion | Jan. 13, 2023 | Maine |
| 4 | $1.337 billion | July 29, 2022 | Illinois |
| 5 | $1.269 billion | Dec. 27, 2024 | California |
| 6 | $1.128 billion | Mar. 26, 2024 | New Jersey |
| 7 | $1.050 billion | Jan. 22, 2021 | Michigan |
Mega Millions in 2022 vs. Mega Millions in 2026
This is the other major reason the original article needed a full rebuild. The Mega Millions game changed in April 2025. A reader using the 2022 rules today would get the ticket price, Mega Ball pool, odds, and multiplier system wrong.
| Feature | 2022 game | Current game (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket price | $2 per play | $5 per play |
| White balls | 5 from 1–70 | 5 from 1–70 |
| Mega Ball | 1 from 1–25 | 1 from 1–24 |
| Jackpot odds | 1 in 302,575,350 | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| Overall odds of any prize | About 1 in 24 | About 1 in 23 |
| Starting jackpot | $20 million | $50 million |
| Multiplier | Optional Megaplier in most jurisdictions | Random 2X–10X multiplier included |
| Drawing schedule | Tuesday & Friday, 11 p.m. ET | Tuesday & Friday, 11 p.m. ET |
The new game began with the April 8, 2025 drawing. Mega Millions says the changes were designed to produce larger starting jackpots, faster-growing jackpots, larger non-jackpot prizes, and slightly better overall and jackpot odds. The tradeoff is a substantially higher ticket price.
What the odds really mean
The current jackpot odds are 1 in 290,472,336. That is slightly better than the odds in 2022, but it remains an extraordinarily unlikely event. The 2022 jackpot is a good example of how rare jackpot wins are: the prize rolled for more than three months before a single ticket finally matched all six numbers.
Random number choices do not change those odds. A set of birthdays, a Quick Pick, or a personally meaningful sequence has the same jackpot probability as any other valid combination. Past drawings do not make particular numbers “due.”
What about taxes on a jackpot this large?
The $780.5 million cash option was a pre-tax figure. Lottery winnings are taxable income. Under current 2026 IRS instructions, lottery winnings over $5,000 are generally subject to 24% federal withholding. That withholding is not necessarily the winner’s final federal tax liability, and state taxes can also apply depending on the jurisdiction and the winner’s circumstances.
For a jackpot of this size, the practical lesson is not to estimate a winner’s take-home amount from the headline number alone. Annuity value, cash value, withholding, final federal tax liability, state taxes, shared ownership, estate planning, and investment decisions can all materially change the outcome. Anyone holding a major winning ticket should obtain qualified legal and tax advice before making irreversible decisions.
Why this 2022 drawing still matters
The July 29, 2022 drawing was not merely a large number in a news cycle. It became Illinois’ largest lottery prize ever, created one of the largest cash-option payouts in U.S. lottery history, and remains one of only seven Mega Millions jackpots above $1 billion through 2026.
It is also a useful case study in how lottery headlines work. The number splashed across television and social media before a drawing is an estimated annuity value—not the amount a winner necessarily receives as cash. Final sales can change the jackpot. Winners can choose different payout structures. And the game’s rules can change over time, which is why old odds and ticket-price articles need periodic updates.
Frequently asked questions
Was the July 29, 2022 Mega Millions jackpot $1.28 billion or $1.337 billion?
$1.28 billion was the estimate before the drawing. After actual sales were counted, the final jackpot was announced as $1.337 billion, with a $780.5 million cash value.
What were the winning numbers?
The white balls were 13, 36, 45, 57 and 67. The Mega Ball was 14.
Where was the winning ticket sold?
At the Speedway located at 885 E. Touhy Avenue in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Who won the $1.337 billion jackpot?
The Illinois Lottery said the prize was claimed by an anonymous partnership. The members had agreed to split the prize and elected to remain anonymous.
How much cash did the winners take?
The partnership chose the $780.5 million lump-sum cash option, before applicable taxes.
What are the Mega Millions jackpot odds today?
Under the current game introduced in April 2025, the jackpot odds are 1 in 290,472,336. The overall odds of winning any prize are about 1 in 23.
Sources
- Mega Millions — July 29, 2022 jackpot results and final value
- Illinois Lottery — jackpot claimed by anonymous partnership
- Mega Millions — 2026 jackpot rankings and current game facts
- Mega Millions — April 2025 game changes
- IRS — 2026 Form W-2G and gambling withholding instructions
- Mega Millions — responsible-play guidance
Responsible-play note: Lottery games are gambling, not an investment strategy. If you choose to play, use money you can afford to lose and review the official rules and responsible-play information for your jurisdiction.
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