Mega Millions player narrowly misses $498m jackpot by one number – but still takes home $4m as bosses hunt winner

A LOTTERY player had a stroke of luck in the latest Mega Millions draw despite missing the jackpot by one number.

The player from Delaware matched five of the winning numbers but not the gold Mega Ball.

However, a key decision they made when buying their ticket meant they managed to quadruple their prize money.

Two other players in Arizona won the usual prize of $1 million after correctly matching the white balls.

But, the lucky Delaware player who did the same opted to pay an extra $1 when buying the ticket to get the multiplier.

On Tuesday's drawing the multiplier was 4X meaning they will take home $4 million.

Lottery officials have yet to hear from the lucky winner, so Mega Millions players in Delaware are urged to check their tickets.

The winning numbers were: 5, 20, 26, 49, 51 with Mega Ball 24.

Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 pm ET and each ticket costs $2.

No one won the jackpot of $498 million on Tuesday which has now rolled over for Friday's drawing.

Players will have the opportunity to win the new jackpot amount of $527 million with an estimated cash prize of $261.9 million.

The overall odds of winning any prize in the Mega Millions game is one in 24 while the odds of scooping the jackpot are one in 302,575,350.

A lucky player in Illinois was the last to win the jackpot on June 4.

They won the ninth-largest Mega Millions jackpot in the game's history at $552 million.

As Mega Millions bosses hunt for the latest winner in Delaware, a player in Washington is unknowingly a millionaire after so far failing to collect their prize.

The $1 million ticket was won on August 2, with the numbers 6, 7, 24, 44, and 54.

How to Win the Mega Millions

There are a total of nine ways to win a prize in Mega Millions, ranging from the jackpot down to $2:

1. The player matches 1 gold Mega ball - $2
2. The player matches 1 white ball and 1 gold Mega ball - $4
3. The player matches 2 white balls and 1 gold Mega ball - $10
4. The player matches 3 white balls - $10
5. The player matches 3 white balls and 1 gold Mega ball - $200
6. The player matches 4 white balls - $500
7. The player matches 4 white balls and 1 gold Mega ball - $10,000
8. The player matches 5 white balls - $1,000,000
9. The player matches 5 white balls and 1 gold Mega ball - Jackpot

However, they missed the Mega Ball of 13.

Winners of Mega Millions prizes must be on top to claiming their money in a timely fashion or risk losing it all.

While the expiry date for each prize differs per jurisdiction due to local rules and regulations, there are two key dates to consider.

The expiry deadline for such tickets ranges from 90 days to one year from the draw date.

Players must check their state regulations about which expiration date applies to them.

All players are advised to sign the backs of their tickets and keep them in a safe space.

Those that are not signed and then lost or handed in by someone else can be claimed by them, Mega Millions has warned.

Meanwhile, one lottery player who scooped $1 million while getting a snack immediately lost $350,000.

The U.S. Sun also reported on another winner who almost lost their $257,000 prize after ignoring calls and emails.

Top lottery winners in the US

Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.

• Edwin Castro - $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
• Theodorus Struyck - $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
• Unknown winner - $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
• Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida - $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
• Unknown winner - $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
• Unknown winner - he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden - $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
• Unknown winner - $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
• Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao - $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
• Yanira Alvarez - $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
• Wolverine FLL Lottery Club - $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan.
• Unknown winner - $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan.