The massive **Mega Millions** jackpot continued its ascent, reaching an estimated **$520 million** for the latest drawing on **Friday, October 3, 2025**. The cash option for this monumental prize pool stood at an estimated **$240.1 million**.

Did the massive prize finally find a winner? Here are the official numbers, the latest prize details, and everything you need to know about the next drawing.

Mega Millions Winning Numbers: October 3, 2025

The winning numbers for the Friday, October 3, 2025 Mega Millions drawing are:

Did Anyone Win the $520 Million Jackpot?

**Based on official reports, the $520 million jackpot was NOT won in the Friday, October 3 drawing.**

This result means the jackpot will continue to grow for the next drawing, once again setting the stage for one of the largest lottery prizes of the year. While the top prize rolled over, there were undoubtedly multiple winning tickets for the lower-tier prizes, including those matching all five white balls.

The Next Mega Millions Drawing

The excitement continues! The next opportunity to play for the growing Mega Millions jackpot is scheduled for:

• Next Drawing: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
• Drawing Time: 11:00 p.m. ET (Check local time for verification)

How to Play Mega Millions

Playing Mega Millions is straightforward, requiring you to select six numbers from two separate pools:

1. Five White Balls: Choose five different numbers from 1 to 70.
2. One Gold Mega Ball: Choose one number from 1 to 24.

Tickets cost **$5 per play**. Many players also opt for the **Easy Pick/Quick Pick** option, which lets the lottery terminal randomly select the numbers.

Ticket Purchase Cutoff Time

To participate in the Tuesday, Oct. 7 drawing, you must purchase your ticket before the cutoff time. This time varies by state, but is often just before the drawing. For example, in Michigan, in-store and online ticket sales are available until **10:45 p.m.** on the night of the draw. Always check your local state lottery for the exact cutoff time.

The Built-In Multiplier Explained

Mega Millions has simplified its prize structure by retiring the separate ‘Megaplier’ add-on. Instead, a **built-in multiplier** is automatically included in every $5 ticket purchase.

• How it Works: A random multiplier (**2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X**) is assigned to your ticket at the time of purchase.
• Prize Impact: This multiplier increases all **non-jackpot prizes** you win. For instance, matching five white balls normally wins the base prize of **$1 million**. If your ticket has the **10X multiplier**, your prize instantly becomes **$10 million**!

Understanding Jackpot Payouts and Odds

Jackpot Payout Options

A Mega Millions jackpot winner faces the enviable choice between two payout options:

1. The Cash Option: A single, one-time lump-sum payment equal to the cash available in the prize pool. For the Oct. 3 drawing, this was **$240.1 million** (before taxes).
2. The Annuity Option: The full advertised jackpot amount (**$520 million** for this draw), paid out as one immediate payment followed by **29 annual payments**. Each annual payment is **5% bigger** than the last, which is designed to help protect the winner’s purchasing power against inflation.

If multiple tickets win the jackpot, the prize money is split equally among all winning tickets, regardless of the payout method chosen.

The Odds of Winning

While the lure of a massive jackpot is strong, the odds of winning remain incredibly long.

The odds of matching all five white balls and the Mega Ball to win the grand prize jackpot are **1 in 290,472,336**.

Overall odds of winning any prize in the Mega Millions game are approximately **1 in 23**.

Disclaimer: Lottery games are based on chance and should be played responsibly. The prize amounts listed are estimates and may vary based on ticket sales and the number of winners. Always refer to the official Mega Millions website and your state lottery for the most accurate and up-to-date information.