Lottery results LIVE – Mega Millions numbers drawn TONIGHT as 05/14/22 Powerball jackpot increases
SOMEONE could win big after tonight's Mega Million drawing.
The estimated Mega Millions jackpot is valued at $99million with a cash option of $57million.
The Powerball jackpot, which was a projected $69.6million prize, with a cash option of $40million, was not won in the drawing on Wednesday night.
The jackpot will increase to $83million with a cash value of $47.6million in the next drawing, which will take place tomorrow.
Mega Millions numbers are drawn every Tuesday and Friday at 11pm ET.
Powerball drawings are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
Read our lottery live blog for the latest results and winning numbers...
Can I redeem tickets in another state?
The simple answer is no.
Mega Millions is sold by individual lotteries, so winning tickets must be redeemed in the state they were purchased in.
However, lotteries usually have a claim-by-mail option for most prizes.
How long do you have to claim prizes?
Powerball tickets typically have expiration dates that vary from 90 days to one year depending on where they were sold, according to the Powerball website.
The expiration date is likely listed on the back of your ticket.
If it is not, check with your state lottery office.
Winning on two identical tickets
Scotty Thomas, of North Carolina, said he was watching a basketball game on TV and couldn’t remember filling in his Lucky for Life tickets.
The 49-year-old dump truck operator, from Fayetteville, told the North Carolina Education Lottery: “I went ahead and filled it out again and the next morning my son asked why there were two different amounts listed. I realized, ‘I think I filled it out twice.”
Thomas won $25,000 each year for life on both tickets following the draw on November 27.
He decided to claim the lump sum of $780,000 instead of yearly payments and plans to invest in his business, pay off bills and treat his family.
The dump truck operator pocketed around $550,000 after taxes.
Florida man won $1million prize from grocery store ticket
46-year-old Dean Mills of Lakeland, Florida, won a million dollar prize from the Florida Lottery after cashing in a ticket he got from Publix, a local grocery store, CBS12 reported.
The golden ticket was a GOLD RUSH LIMITED Scratch-Off game. Mills took home a lump-sum payment of $795K.
$3Million Mega Millions lottery ticket sold in Texas
A Texas resident started off the new year with a $300million winning Mega Millions lottery ticket purchased during the first week of January.
The anonymous winner chose to add the Megaplier option, increasing their winnings from $1million to $3million.
The winning ticket was sold at a meat market in Fair Oaks Ranch.
Michigan woman got lucky for life
77-year-old Brenda Walker of Canton, Michigan, has played the same numbers for years. She finally got her winning ticket in the Michigan Lottery’s Lucky for Life game.
“I’ve played a special set of numbers made up of birth dates and other special dates for years,” Walker told the Michigan Lottery.
“When the numbers were read off, I recognized them right away and had to press the repeat option a few times to make sure I was hearing right.”
Walker opted to receive her payments as a one-time, lump sum payment of $390,000 rather than the annual payments of $25,000.
She planned to use the money to buy a new car.
State without lotteries, part two
Nevada and Mississippi both claim introducing a state lottery could bring in a competitor against their lucrative gambling industries.
However, Mississippi residents were able to start buying Mega Millions and Powerball tickets on January 30, 2020.
States without lotteries
Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, and Utah do not have state lotteries.
Alabama and Utah cite religious objections as the reason they don’t host the popular game.
Big payouts for second prize, continued
A huge second-prize payout can happen if the player has purchased the optional Megaplier.
Since October 19, 2013, the website says “there have been 1,140 Match 5 winning tickets worth $1 million or more, and they have been won in almost every jurisdiction in which the game is sold.”
Big payouts for second prize
Even though Mega Millions winners get the ultimate prizes, runners-up can also be generously rewarded.
According to the Mega Millions website, it’s the only lottery drawing where the second prize can be as much as $5million.
Mega Millions drawings, continued
Steps to prepare for a Mega Millions drawing include:
- Drawing machines and ball sets for each game are randomly selected and certified by outside auditors to ensure balls and equipment allow each number an equal chance of being drawn.
- Each Lottery drawing machine and ball set goes through a series of pre-drawing tests to ensure the absolute randomness of results.
- Two draw officials who are lottery employees and one member of an independent auditing firm administer tests and conduct/observe the drawing.
- All equipment is securely maintained with limited access granted to only draw officials.
Where do Mega Millions drawings take place?
Mega Millions drawings are held at WSB-TV studio in Atlanta, Georgia, every Tuesday and Friday at 11pm ET.
Many things go into a successful Mega Millions drawing, including three hours of preparation despite the drawing taking less than 60 seconds.
Reality after a lottery win, part two
Winning the lottery can be glamorous, but it is important to be careful of the people in your life when you win.
“I had one friend who told me this sob story about how behind she was on her local taxes and how they were going to take her house because she couldn’t pay,” shared one winner with Reader’s Digest.
“After she left, I got on my computer, looked up her tax records, and saw that she wasn’t behind.”
“When I printed out that page and sent it to her, well, that was the end of our friendship.”
Reality after a lottery win
Reader’s Digest revealed that despite winning the lottery being life-changing and miraculous, about 70 percent of lottery winners either lose or spend all of their prize money in less than five years, regardless of the prize amount.
Many winners advise others to be careful about their money and spend accordingly.
State without lotteries, part two
Nevada and Mississippi both claim introducing a state lottery could bring in a competitor against their lucrative gambling industries.
However, Mississippi residents were able to start buying Mega Millions and Powerball tickets on January 30, 2020.
States without lotteries
Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, and Utah do not have state lotteries.
Alabama and Utah cite religious objections as the reason they don’t host the popular game.
Big payouts for second prize, continued
A huge second-prize payout can happen if the player has purchased the optional Megaplier.
Since October 19, 2013, the website says “there have been 1,140 Match 5 winning tickets worth $1 million or more, and they have been won in almost every jurisdiction in which the game is sold.”
Big payouts for second prize
Even though Mega Millions winners get the ultimate prizes, runners-up can also be generously rewarded.
According to the Mega Millions website, it’s the only lottery drawing where the second prize can be as much as $5million.
Mega Millions drawings, continued
Steps to prepare for a Mega Millions drawing include:
- Drawing machines and ball sets for each game are randomly selected and certified by outside auditors to ensure balls and equipment allow each number an equal chance of being drawn.
- Each Lottery drawing machine and ball set goes through a series of pre-drawing tests to ensure the absolute randomness of results.
- Two draw officials who are lottery employees and one member of an independent auditing firm administer tests and conduct/observe the drawing.
- All equipment is securely maintained with limited access granted to only draw officials.
Where do Mega Millions drawings take place?
Mega Millions drawings are held at WSB-TV studio in Atlanta, Georgia, every Tuesday and Friday at 11pm ET.
Many things go into a successful Mega Millions drawing, including three hours of preparation despite the drawing taking less than 60 seconds.
Reality after a lottery win, part two
Winning the lottery can be glamorous, but it is important to be careful of the people in your life when you win.
“I had one friend who told me this sob story about how behind she was on her local taxes and how they were going to take her house because she couldn’t pay,” shared one winner with Reader’s Digest.
“After she left, I got on my computer, looked up her tax records, and saw that she wasn’t behind.”
“When I printed out that page and sent it to her, well, that was the end of our friendship.”
Reality after a lottery win
Reader’s Digest revealed that despite winning the lottery being life-changing and miraculous, about 70 percent of lottery winners either lose or spend all of their prize money in less than five years, regardless of the prize amount.
Many winners advise others to be careful about their money and spend accordingly.
Winners who lost it all, continued
Edwards and his wife spent $3million in the first three months on luxury cars, mansions, and a plane.
By the end of the first year, they had spent $12million.
Their lives continued to spiral as they both fell into drug addiction in 2006.
Just 12 years after his life was changed by the win, David Lee Edwards died alone and broke in hospice care.