What Are The Odds Of Winning Mega Millions In Florida?
The Mega Millions jackpot is now at $810 million. That’s the fourth largest jackpot in lottery history. You always hear of people taking the ‘cash option’ which is $470 million. After taxes it ends up being about $296 million. Florida doesn’t have a state income tax so we don’t have to worry about that. So what are the odds of winning Mega Millions in Florida?
Even after the cash option and taxes reduce the total to just under $300 million
That’s still a decent amount. Can it be done? Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. So there’s going to be a lot of people playing. The overall Odds Of Winning Mega Millions are stated as 1 in 302,575,350. If you get 5 numbers right, but miss the Mega Ball, that’s worth a million dollars but the odds of that are 1 in 12,607,306.
Has anyone in Florida done it? What are the Odds Of Winning Mega Millions here?
Yes. Just 4 years ago. On January 5, 2018 then 20 year old Shane Missler of Port Richey won the $451 million dollar Mega Millions jackpot. He had actually won some money on a scratch off and decided to “let it ride” by putting his winnings into Mega Millions tickets. After the drawing, he posted this:
The power of positive thinking should not be underestimated!
— Shane Missler (@TheShaneMissler) January 11, 2018
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Shane bought his winning ticket at the 7-Eleven at 7131 Ridge Rd. in Pasco County. His winning numbers were 28, 30, 39, 59, 70 and the Mega Ball, 10. After a bunch of scammers popped up pretending to be him it was reported that he left the area. Not sure where he is now.
Any big local winners here in Southwest Florida?
I do distinctly remember one in Golden Gate. Someone won a $149 million Powerball jackpot with a ticket bought on Oil Well Road at E’s Country Store. E’s Country Store doesn’t exist anymore, but it was a cool place. I think that family also moved. That seems to be a theme. Once you win a lot of money you need to move.
Good luck everyone. Here’s some research that may help.
- These are the statistics for the sixth/current version of Mega Millions (October 31, 2017 to present: first 5 numbers are 1-70 and the Mega Ball is 1-25).