Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs to $381 Million as No Ticket Hits Friday Draw

Lead: Friday’s Mega Millions drawing across 45 states failed to produce a jackpot winner, leaving the top prize at an estimated $381 million with the numbers 17-18-21-42-64 and Mega Ball 7 revealed on September 12, 2025.

Nut Graf: The continued absence of a lucky ticket has driven the Mega Millions jackpot into the mid-hundreds of millions, fueling heightened ticket sales ahead of the next drawing and spotlighting America’s enduring lottery fervor.

Draw Details and Odds

Winning numbers (Sept. 12, 2025): 17-18-21-42-64; Mega Ball 7
Jackpot: $381 million, or a one-time cash option of approximately $175 million
Ticket cost: $5, including Megaplier multiplier for non-jackpot prizes

Next Drawing and Player Overview

The next Mega Millions drawing is set for Tuesday at 11 p.m. ET, offering players another chance at the escalating jackpot. With no jackpot winner on Friday, smaller prizes and multipliers keep consumer interest strong, even when the top prize goes unclaimed.

Prize Structure Highlights

Match 5 white balls + Mega Ball: Jackpot
Match 5 white balls: boosted third-tier prizes of $2 million-$10 million
Lower-tier prizes now start at $10 for matching the Mega Ball only, up to $100 for other combinations

Game Reach and Participation

Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states plus D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah remain the only jurisdictions without Mega Millions participation. Continuous jackpot rollovers have historically led to surges in ticket purchases, especially when prizes exceed $300 million.

Historical Context

Since January 2025, four jackpot winners have claimed prizes ranging from $112 million to $348 million, demonstrating both the game’s life-changing potential and the odds stacked against players.

End -