Two Mega Millions Tickets Missed the Jackpot but Won $3 Million Each
Friday's Mega Millions drawing had no jackpot winner, but it created two new $3 million prizes. One ticket sold in Missouri and another sold in Tennessee matched all five white balls—8, 17, 29, 42, and 55—while missing Mega Ball 2.
Both tickets also carried a 3X multiplier, turning the $1 million base Match 5 prize into $3 million. Together, the two tickets collected $6 million without either one matching all six numbers.
That is the useful story behind the headline: under the current Mega Millions format, the multiplier is part of every $5 play. It can make two tickets with the same number of matches worth dramatically different amounts.
The multiplier is printed when you buy
Every Mega Millions play receives a randomly assigned multiplier of 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X at purchase. It applies to every non-jackpot prize on that play. Players do not choose the multiplier, and it is no longer a separate optional add-on.
For Match 5, the possible prizes are:
- 2X: $2 million
- 3X: $3 million
- 4X: $4 million
- 5X: $5 million
- 10X: $10 million
The Missouri and Tennessee plays each landed on 3X. The multiplier did not help them match the five white balls; it only determined the value of the prize after those matches occurred.
The jackpot is the exception. Matching five white balls plus the Mega Ball wins the advertised jackpot, not a multiplied version of it.
A $145 million jackpot still rolled
The August 28 jackpot was an estimated $145 million annuity, with a $61.9 million cash option. Because nobody matched all six numbers, the estimated prize moved to $160 million, with a cash option of $68.9 million, for Tuesday's drawing.
Those two figures are payment alternatives, not two prizes added together. The annuity consists of an immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that rise over time. The cash option represents the amount available for a single payment before taxes.
LuckMaker's Lottery Tax Calculator can provide an initial estimate for a large U.S. prize. Actual liability depends on current federal law, state rules, residency, income, and other circumstances, so a major winner should consult qualified tax and legal professionals before making financial commitments.
Check the ticket, not just the drawing
If you played Friday, first compare every number with LuckMaker's latest lottery results. Then inspect the multiplier printed beside that specific play. Seeing five matching white balls tells you the prize tier; it does not tell you the final prize amount.
This is also why saving only the selected numbers is incomplete. Record the game, draw date, numbers, multiplier, and purchase details in Ticket Vault, then keep the official ticket secure. A digital record can prevent a forgotten check, but it does not replace the ticket or official account record required to claim.
For a randomized line without birthday limits or favorite-number patterns, LuckMaker's Lucky Number Generator creates an unbiased selection. It cannot predict a drawing, and it has no influence over the multiplier assigned at purchase.
The $5 price changes the comparison
Mega Millions now costs $5 per play. One ticket for both weekly drawings is $10 a week, or $520 over 52 weeks. The built-in multiplier raises non-jackpot prizes, but it does not make a five-number selection more likely to match.
Before buying, compare ticket price, jackpot odds, current prize, lower tiers, and draw frequency together. Check the LuckMaker Score at luckmaker3000.com/games—our proprietary 0–100 game rating. LuckMaker covers 98 games across 25 U.S. states and 9 international markets.
The practical takeaway from Friday is simple: missing the Mega Ball did not end the story. Two tickets achieved the same Match 5 result, both received 3X, and each became a $3 million winner. Check every line completely, save its multiplier in Ticket Vault, and keep the $5 purchase inside a fixed entertainment budget.