Mega Millions Ticket Holder Wins $533M Jackpot in Illinois

On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, a lucky Mega Millions player in Illinois claimed the first jackpot of the year, winning a staggering $533 million. The winning numbers were 16, 21, 30, 35, and 65, with a Mega Ball of 7. The ticketholder has the choice between the full jackpot amount paid over time or a one-time cash payout of $244.2 million.

Illinois continues to be a lucky state for lottery players. In addition to the jackpot winner, another Illinois player won $5 million by matching the five white balls with a 5x multiplier. A player in Maryland also had a significant win, matching the five white balls with a 4x multiplier, resulting in a $4 million prize.

The Mega Millions jackpot will reset to an estimated $50 million for the next drawing, which is scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2026. Tickets cost $5 per play, which includes a Multiplier that can increase non-jackpot prizes. Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET.

The recent revamp of Mega Millions, implemented in April 2025, aimed to offer larger prizes, better odds for winning the jackpot, and a higher starting jackpot of $50 million. Despite these changes, the odds of hitting the jackpot remain challenging at 1 in 290,472,336.

The winning numbers were 16, 21, 30, 35, 65, and the Mega Ball was 7.

The Mega Millions jackpot reset to an estimated $50 million.

The next Mega Millions drawing will be held on Friday, March 13, 2026.

Do you think you have a chance at winning the next Mega Millions jackpot? Share your thoughts in the comments! Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!