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Mega Millions jackpot a top 10 and a Florida ticket wins big: Winning numbers for Tuesday, Feb. 27.

Lianna Norman Jennifer Sangalang
USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida

The Mega Millions jackpot has officially hit "top 10" status, ringing in at a number that places it as one of the largest Mega Millions jackpot of all time.

Will a $2 Mega Millions ticket make you a multimillionaire? As they say in the lottery business, "it could happen to you." Spoiler alert! There was a big Florida winner. Check your numbers!

After no one matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the Friday, February 23 drawing for $525 million, the grand prize rolled over to $563 million for the drawing on Tuesday, February 27.

Keep scrolling to see where that places Tuesday's prize in the top 10 Mega Millions jackpots of all time.

Tuesday's winning numbers were 6-18-26-27-49 and the Mega Ball was 4. The Megaplier was 3x. The means another rollover, and a jackpot that continues to climb the record ladder. The big prize is now the ninth largest all-time for Mega Millions.

The Mega Millions jackpot for Friday now jumps to $607 million, with a cash option of $286.9 million.

There was a big winner from Florida after Tuesday's drawing . A ticket purchased in the Sunshine State matched 5 for a $1 million prize.

In case you're wondering, Friday's winning numbers were 4-6-40-41-60 and the Mega Ball was 11. The Megaplier was 5x.

Mega Millions tickets start at $2 apiece. Below are some frequently asked questions about the game and lottery odds. Good luck!

How much was the Mega Millions jackpot for Tuesday, Feb. 27?

an estimated $563 million with a cash option of $266.1 million

How much was the Mega Millions jackpot for Friday, Feb. 23?

an estimated $525 million with a cash option of $247.5 million

How much was the Mega Millions jackpot for Tuesday, Feb. 20?

an estimated $493 million with a cash option of $232.1 million

How long has Mega Millions rolled over?

Someone won the $395 million Mega Millions jackpot with a cash option of $189 million on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. The jackpot started at $20 million for the Tuesday, Dec. 12, drawing. Here's a snapshot of how the prize has climbed since then.

When do Florida lottery tickets expire?

Prizes for Florida Lottery must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. To claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days after the applicable draw date to claim it.

What happens to the unclaimed prize money?

According to the Florida Lottery, state law requires 80% of unclaimed prize funds from expired tickets be transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. The remaining 20% is returned to the prize pool for future drawings.

What happens to unclaimed Mega Millions prize money?

Should a Mega Millions ticket not be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date, "the funds to pay the unclaimed jackpot will be returned to the lottery members in their proportion of sales for the jackpot rollover series."

What are the odds of winning Mega Millions?

According to the Mega Millions website, you have a 1 in 302,575,350 chance to match all five white balls plus the gold Mega Ball. Prizes range from $2 (for matching the Mega Ball) to the grand prize jackpot, which varies.

Can Florida lottery winners remain anonymous?

According to Florida Lottery's website, winners cannot remain anonymous: "Florida law mandates that the Florida Lottery provide records containing information such as the winner's name, city of residence; game won, date won, and amount won to any third party who requests the information."

However, the site states, since May 25, 2022, the "names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner."

Lottery experts and lawyers have said there are ways to remain anonymous if you win.

When did lotto jackpots hit $1 billion or more?

As of Feb. 27, 2024, there have been nine lottery jackpots that have reached or surpassed $1 billion. Only once has a jackpot surpassed $2 billion.

What are the Top 10 largest Mega Millions jackpots ever?

According to its website, here are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots as of Feb. 27, 2024:

  • 10. $543 million — July 24, 2018; California
  • 9. $563 million — No winner yet
  • 8. $648 million — Dec. 17, 2013; California and Georgia
  • 7. $656 million — March 30, 2012; Illinois, Kansas and Maryland
  • 6. $1.05 billion — Jan. 22, 2021; Michigan
  • 5. $1.08 billion — July 19, 2023; California
  • 4. $1.337 billion — July 29, 2022; Illinois
  • 3. $1.35 billion — Jan. 13, 2023; Maine
  • 2. $1.537 billion — Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina
  • 1. $1.58 billion — Aug. 8, 2023; Florida

What are the Top 10 largest lottery jackpots ever?

The following Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots made the Top 10 biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history, as of Feb. 27, 2024.

Contributing: Olivia Munson, USA TODAY

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.