Florida ticket holder claims $800M Mega Millions jackpot after 38-drawing drought

Key points

• The July 28, 2026 Mega Millions drawing produced a single grand prize winner in Florida, claiming the $800 million jackpot.
• The winning numbers were 34, 48, 49, 59, and 70, with the gold Mega Ball 12.
• The jackpot represents the tenth-largest prize in Mega Millions history and the largest of 2026, surpassing the $656 million jackpot from March 2012.
• The cash value of the jackpot is $344.2 million; after 24% federal withholding, the lump sum payout is estimated at $261.6 million.
• The win ended a 38-drawing drought, with the previous jackpot winner being The Happy Trails Trust in Ohio on March 17, 2026.
• Two other tickets won second-tier prizes: a $3 million ticket in Buffalo, New York, and a $5 million ticket in Illinois.

Background

The Mega Millions jackpot had been climbing since March 2026, reaching $707 million before the July 21 drawing and $800 million after the July 24 drawing without a winner. The game had gone 37 consecutive drawings without a grand prize winner prior to July 28. In 2025, Mega Millions raised the starting jackpot to $50 million and added automatic multipliers for non-jackpot prizes. The last jackpot winner before the current drought was The Happy Trails Trust, who won $60 million in Van Wert, Ohio, on March 17, 2026. Florida has won six Mega Millions grand prizes, including the record $1.62 billion jackpot in August 2023.

How outlets are covering it

USA Today reported the winning numbers and the jackpot amount but did not initially confirm a winner, noting the prize was 'TBD.' New York Post and WBAL-TV confirmed that a ticket sold in Florida won the jackpot, with New York Post specifying that the winner could choose between the annuity or a $344.2 million cash payout, which would be reduced to $261.6 million after federal withholding. WBAL-TV emphasized that the jackpot was the largest since November 2025 and the tenth-largest in game history. Cincinnati Enquirer provided the winning numbers and other Ohio lottery results but did not comment on the jackpot winner. All sources agreed on the winning numbers and the $800 million jackpot amount, but only New York Post and WBAL-TV confirmed the Florida winner and the cash value details.

Why it matters

The $800 million jackpot is the largest of 2026 and the tenth-largest in Mega Millions history, highlighting the growing size of lottery jackpots and the long droughts that can occur without a winner. The win ends a 38-drawing streak without a grand prize winner, which had kept the jackpot climbing from $60 million in March 2026 to $800 million by July 2026. The cash value of $344.2 million, and the estimated $261.6 million after federal withholding, illustrates the significant tax implications for jackpot winners. The win also marks the third grand prize winner in 2026, following an anonymous online player in Illinois in March and The Happy Trails Trust in Ohio in March.

What to watch

The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, July 31, 2026, at 11 p.m. ET. The Powerball jackpot is estimated at $663 million for the July 29 drawing. The Florida winner must claim the prize within the state's specified time frame, which varies by state but typically ranges from 90 days to one year. The winner can choose between the annuity or the $344.2 million cash lump sum, which would be reduced to approximately $261.6 million after federal withholding. The next drawing will determine if the jackpot resets or continues to climb.