Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing failed to produce a jackpot winner, causing the top prize to roll over to an estimated $165 million for the next drawing on Tuesday, January 8th. The winning numbers from the January 5th drawing were: 10, 12, 26, 29, and 39, with the Mega Ball number 25.
While no ticket matched all six numbers to claim the $140 million jackpot, over 800,000 winning tickets were sold across all prize tiers. This includes two tickets, sold in Connecticut and Texas, that matched the first five numbers to win $2 million each. In addition, 52 tickets matched four numbers plus the Mega Ball to win $10,000 apiece.
Winning Tickets Sold Across U.S., But Jackpot Eludes Players
The two second prize winning tickets worth $2 million each were sold at:
- A Smokers Choice store in Milford, Connecticut
- An Exxpress Mart convenience store in Longview, Texas
Both tickets matched the first five numbers but missed the Mega Ball number to win the game’s second-highest prize.
In addition to the million-dollar winners, a $713,000 ticket matching five numbers sans the Mega Ball was sold at a Chevron gas station in Lafayette, California. Overall, nearly 36,000 winning tickets were sold in the Golden State.
Here is a summary of some of the key winning tickets:
| Prize Level | # of Winners | Top Prizes | States Sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 5 + MB | 0 | $140 million jackpot | None |
| Match 5, No MB | 1 | $713,000 | California |
| Match 4 + MB | 52 | $10,000 | Multiple states |
| Match 4, No MB | 789 | $500 | Multiple states |
| Match 3 + MB | 960 | $150 | Multiple states |
| Match 3, No MB | 35,646 | $2 | Multiple states |
Despite over 800,000 winning tickets across the draw, the jackpot once again eluded players. The lack of a jackpot winner caused the top prize to roll over and increase to an estimated $165 million for the next drawing on Tuesday, January 8th.
Connecticut and Texas Ticketholders Take Home $2 Million Prize
Of all the states where major winning tickets were sold, Connecticut and Texas stood out for each selling a $2 million prizewinning ticket.
In Connecticut, a winning ticket was purchased at Smokers Choice on Boston Post Road in Milford. The store is no stranger to selling major winning lottery tickets, having previously sold a $1 million Powerball ticket in 2021. Store owner Vipul Patel was thrilled to have sold another life-changing ticket. “We are very lucky here in Milford. So many people won here before, and now again someone wins $2 million here. It’s a lucky store,” he said.
Meanwhile, Texas saw its own $2 million winner purchased at the Exxpress Mart in Longview near the Louisiana border. The store owner Ricky Verma said he was shocked but delighted to have sold such a major prize. “I’m very excited. I can’t even sleep,” Verma stated after learning his store produced the lucky ticket.
Both $2 million tickets matched five main numbers but just missed the Mega Ball. While not enough to win the massive jackpot, the ticketholders likely feel like big winners nonetheless.
Rollover Jackpot Still Lures Players with Life-Changing Payout
Despite holding at $140 million for a few consecutive drawings, the Mega Millions jackpot had recently caught fire after no winner in late December. Only three weeks ago the jackpot was just $20 million before rapidly rising over the holidays once no player could match all six numbers.
Now at $165 million, the lump sum cash payout value has climbed over $75 million. That amount would be more than enough for even modest lottery winners to pay off debts, purchase luxury items, give to charity and set themselves up for life.
Mega Millions is played in nearly every state nationwide, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington D.C. Tickets cost $2 each with players trying to match all six numbers drawn from two separate number pools. Odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 303 million.
While the twice-weekly drawings frequently produce millionaires from matching five main numbers or four main numbers plus the Mega Ball, players really only have eyes on the jackpot prize. additional smaller prizes of $2 to $150 are awarded for matching anywhere from just the Mega Ball up to five main numbers sans the Mega Ball.
With no jackpot winner found this time around, lottery officials expect sales to be brisk leading up to the next drawing on Tuesday night at 11:00 PM EST. “The growing jackpot generates greater excitement among our players as was evident by the strong sales for last night’s drawing” said Ohio Lottery Director Pat McDonald. Players still have four days to purchase tickets before the next group of numbers are drawn and a chance for someone to walk away with the jackpot.
Until a winner emerges, the cycle will likely repeat with the Mega Millions top prize continuing to grow, potentially eclipsing $200 million or more. For one fortunate ticketholder, the new year could deliver life-changing riches in the upcoming week. But the only way to win is to play, so lottery officials are expecting a weekend rush on ticket sales.
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