No Grand Prize Winner in December 23 Drawing

No ticket matched all six winning numbers in the December 23 drawing, causing the jackpot to roll over to 125 million dollars for the next drawing scheduled for Friday, December 26. The cash option for the increased jackpot was estimated at 56 million dollars, continuing the growth pattern that has made Mega Millions one of America’s most popular lottery games. The failure to produce a grand prize winner meant that holiday players would have another opportunity just three days later, with the potential prize amount increasing substantially.

The total amount of prize money won in the December 23 draw was approximately 8.7 million dollars across all prize tiers, demonstrating that while the jackpot remained unclaimed, thousands of players won prizes ranging from a few dollars to substantial amounts. The absence of a jackpot winner extended what has been a relatively modest jackpot run compared to some of the billion-dollar prizes seen earlier in 2025, but still offered significant wealth to fortunate participants.

California Player Claims Million-Dollar Prize

One lucky player from California matched all five white ball numbers but missed the Mega Ball, earning the second-tier prize. In California’s unique pari-mutuel system, where prize amounts vary based on ticket sales and the number of winners, this represented a substantial win that instantly created a new millionaire on Christmas Eve. The California Lottery operates differently from other states, calculating prizes based on the state’s total sales and the number of winners in each prize category rather than using fixed prize amounts.

In New York State alone, there were 16 fourth-place winning tickets that matched four out of five numbers but missed the Mega Ball, with prizes ranging from 1,000 to 2,500 dollars depending on each ticket’s Megaplier. Additionally, 44 fifth-place winning tickets were sold in New York, each matching three numbers plus the Mega Ball for prizes between 400 and 1,000 dollars. These mid-tier winners demonstrated the multiple ways players could win substantial amounts even without claiming the jackpot, providing thousands of New Yorkers with unexpected holiday bonuses.

Record-Breaking Year for Mega Millions in 2025

The 2025 calendar year has witnessed extraordinary Mega Millions activity, including what became Georgia’s largest jackpot winner in history when a single ticket purchased in Newnan matched all six numbers on November 14, 2025, to win an estimated 980 million dollar jackpot with a cash value of 452.2 million dollars. This historic win surpassed all previous Georgia Lottery records and marked one of the largest single-ticket lottery prizes ever awarded in the United States. The winning ticket was a Quick Pick purchased at a Publix supermarket, demonstrating that random number selection can be just as effective as choosing personal numbers.

Following the massive Georgia win, the Mega Millions jackpot was won again remarkably quickly, with a New Jersey ticket claiming a 90 million dollar prize on December 2, 2025, just five drawings after the Georgia jackpot. This represented the shortest jackpot run since August 2023, when consecutive Florida winners emerged within just two drawings of each other. The rapid succession of jackpot wins in late 2025 contrasted with longer dry spells earlier in the year, highlighting the unpredictable nature of lottery drawings and the statistical independence of each draw.

Six Major Jackpots Claimed in 2025

Throughout 2025, Mega Millions produced six confirmed jackpot winners, representing a significant increase from previous years when the game sometimes saw months between grand prize winners. The year’s jackpot winners included prizes in Arizona (112 million dollars on January 17), Illinois (349 million dollars on March 25), Ohio (112 million dollars on April 18), Virginia (348 million dollars on June 27), Georgia (980 million dollars on November 14), and New Jersey (90 million dollars on December 2). This geographic distribution demonstrated that jackpot success can occur anywhere tickets are sold, with both large and small states producing major winners.

The Virginia win on June 27 was particularly significant as it marked the state’s tenth Mega Millions jackpot and its largest ever, with an estimated value of 348 million dollars and a cash option of 155.5 million dollars. Virginia was one of the six original lotteries that created the Big Game in 1996, which later became Mega Millions in 2002. The win represented Virginia’s first Mega Millions jackpot since 2016, ending a nine-year drought for the Commonwealth and demonstrating that patience can eventually pay off for regular lottery participants.

Understanding the Mega Millions Game Changes in 2025

A significant transformation occurred in the Mega Millions game format beginning with the April 8, 2025 drawing. The most notable change was the increase in ticket price from two dollars to five dollars per play, representing the first price increase in the game’s modern history. This adjustment came with substantial benefits for players, including improved overall odds, significantly enhanced non-jackpot prizes, and the inclusion of an automatic multiplier feature with every ticket at no additional cost.

Under the new format, players select five numbers from 1 through 70 for the white balls and one number from 1 through 24 for the gold Mega Ball. Each play automatically includes a multiplier that can range from 2X to 10X, which multiplies all non-jackpot prizes without requiring players to pay extra. This represents a significant departure from the previous system where players had to purchase the Megaplier option separately for an additional dollar. The automatic inclusion of the multiplier ensures that all players have the opportunity to multiply their winnings, potentially turning modest prizes into substantial amounts.

Improved Odds and Enhanced Prize Structure

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot improved from the previous 1 in 302,575,350 to 1 in 290,472,336 under the new game format. While this improvement may seem modest, it represents millions of additional winning combinations in the massive pool of possible number selections. The change resulted from adjustments to the number pools and the overall game matrix, designed to create more frequent jackpot winners while still maintaining the massive prize potential that makes Mega Millions attractive to players.

The second-tier prize for matching all five white balls without the Mega Ball saw dramatic enhancement under the new system. With the automatic multiplier feature, this prize level can now reach up to five million dollars when the 10X multiplier is randomly assigned to a winning ticket. Previous winners in this category received a fixed one million dollars, or up to five million with the optional Megaplier purchase. The new system ensures that every ticket has the potential for these enhanced prizes, making the game more rewarding across all prize tiers.

Prize Structure and Winning Odds

Mega Millions offers nine distinct prize tiers, providing multiple pathways to winning for players who purchase tickets. The overall odds of winning any prize in Mega Millions are approximately 1 in 23, meaning that roughly one in every 23 tickets will win something, even if just the minimum prize for matching only the Mega Ball. These relatively favorable odds of winning some prize help maintain player engagement and interest in the game, even though the jackpot remains extremely difficult to win.

The complete prize structure includes the following tiers with their corresponding base prizes before multiplication:

Grand Prize (Match 5 + Mega Ball): The jackpot starts at a minimum of 50 million dollars following the April 2025 game changes, representing a substantial increase from the previous 20 million dollar starting point. Winners face odds of 1 in 290,472,336 and can choose between a 30-year annuity with annual payments increasing by five percent each year, or a lump sum cash option representing approximately 45 to 50 percent of the advertised annuity value. The annuity option provides the full advertised amount spread over three decades, while the cash option gives immediate access to a smaller but still substantial sum.
Second Tier (Match 5): Players matching all five white balls but missing the Mega Ball can win between one million and five million dollars depending on their automatically assigned multiplier. With odds of approximately 1 in 12.6 million, this prize tier creates instant millionaires regularly without requiring perfect number selection. The 10X multiplier can transform a standard one million dollar prize into five million dollars, representing life-changing wealth even without matching the Mega Ball.
Third Tier (Match 4 + Mega Ball): This level awards a base prize of 10,000 dollars with odds of approximately 1 in 931,000. With the automatic multiplier, prizes in this category can reach up to 100,000 dollars, providing substantial winnings that could eliminate debt, fund major purchases, or serve as a significant financial cushion. The multiplication factor makes this tier particularly attractive as it can turn a good win into an excellent one.
Fourth Tier (Match 4): Matching four white balls without the Mega Ball yields 500 dollars as a base prize, with potential multiplication up to 5,000 dollars with a 10X multiplier. The odds of winning at this level are approximately 1 in 38,800, making it a reasonably achievable goal for regular players. While not life-changing, these amounts represent meaningful winnings that exceed the ticket cost by a substantial margin.
Lower Prize Tiers: Additional prize levels include matching three numbers plus the Mega Ball for 200 dollars (up to 2,000 with 10X), three numbers alone for 10 dollars (up to 100 with 10X), two numbers plus the Mega Ball for 10 dollars (up to 100 with 10X), one number plus the Mega Ball for 4 dollars (up to 40 with 10X), and matching just the Mega Ball for 10 dollars (up to 100 with 10X). These smaller prizes keep players engaged and provide frequent winning experiences, helping to sustain interest in the game between major jackpot wins.

Where and How to Play Mega Millions

Mega Millions tickets are available for purchase in 45 states across the United States, as well as Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The five states that do not participate are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah, primarily due to state constitutional provisions or laws that prohibit or severely restrict gambling activities. Within participating jurisdictions, tickets can be purchased at a wide variety of retail locations including convenience stores, gas stations, supermarkets, and any location holding a valid lottery retailer license from the state lottery commission.

The purchasing process remains straightforward despite the game changes. Players can either manually select their numbers on a paper play slip or request a Quick Pick where the lottery terminal randomly generates all numbers. Most states have sales cutoff times between 10:00 PM and 10:45 PM Eastern Time on drawing nights, though players should verify their specific jurisdiction’s deadline. Tickets can be purchased for individual drawings or for multiple consecutive drawings, with some states allowing advance purchase for up to 26 drawings at retail locations and up to 52 drawings through online platforms.

Online Purchase Options Expanding

A growing number of states now permit Mega Millions ticket purchases through official state lottery websites and authorized mobile applications. States currently offering digital lottery sales include Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and several others. These platforms require players to create verified accounts, confirm their age and identity, and link payment methods such as debit cards or bank accounts. Smaller prizes are typically credited automatically to player accounts, while larger wins require in-person claims at designated lottery offices.

Third-party lottery courier services have also emerged in certain jurisdictions, operating as licensed intermediaries that purchase physical tickets on behalf of customers who order through mobile applications. These services provide convenience for players who cannot easily access retail locations but want to participate in major drawings. However, players should exercise caution and only use services that are specifically licensed and authorized by their state lottery commission, as numerous fraudulent lottery sites operate illegally online and offer no legitimate chance of winning.

Tax Implications for Mega Millions Winners

Winning a substantial Mega Millions prize comes with significant tax obligations that substantially reduce the amount winners ultimately receive. Federal income tax withholding automatically takes 24 percent of any lottery prize exceeding 5,000 dollars immediately upon claim. However, because lottery winnings are classified as ordinary income for tax purposes, winners in the highest federal tax bracket will owe approximately 37 percent in federal taxes when filing their annual returns. This means that an additional 13 percent beyond the initial withholding will be due at tax time for jackpot winners.

State taxes add another layer of complexity, with rates varying dramatically across different jurisdictions. Several states including Florida, Texas, California, Washington, and a handful of others impose no state income tax on lottery winnings, allowing residents to keep the full amount after federal taxes. Other states impose rates ranging from just a few percent to more than 10 percent on lottery prizes. New York has one of the highest combined state and local tax burdens on lottery winnings, with New York City residents potentially paying more than 10 percent in combined state and city taxes on top of federal obligations.

Choosing Between Payment Options

Jackpot winners must decide between receiving their prize as a 30-year annuity or taking an immediate lump sum cash payment. The annuity option pays the full advertised jackpot amount through annual payments over three decades, with each payment being five percent larger than the previous year. This structure provides inflation protection and ensures winners receive the complete advertised amount, though spread over a lengthy timeframe. The graduated payment structure helps winners adjust to their new wealth gradually while providing increasing amounts to match rising costs of living.

The vast majority of jackpot winners select the cash option, which provides immediate access to a lump sum representing the present value of the annuity. For the 100 million dollar jackpot offered on December 23, 2025, the cash option was valued at 45.5 million dollars, or approximately 45 percent of the advertised amount. After federal taxes of roughly 37 percent, a winner choosing the cash option would receive approximately 28.7 million dollars before state taxes. Despite receiving significantly less than the advertised jackpot, most winners prefer the cash option because it provides complete control over their wealth, allows for immediate investment opportunities, and eliminates concerns about future tax law changes or personal circumstances over three decades.

Responsible Gaming and Player Protection

While Mega Millions offers exciting possibilities for wealth, lottery officials and gambling experts consistently emphasize the importance of responsible play. The astronomical odds of winning the jackpot mean that the vast majority of players will never win a life-changing prize. Players should view lottery tickets as entertainment rather than as an investment strategy or realistic path to financial security. Setting strict budgets for lottery play and never spending money needed for essential expenses like housing, food, utilities, or healthcare is crucial for maintaining healthy gambling habits.

Problem gambling can develop when individuals chase losses, spend beyond their means, or become preoccupied with lottery play to the detriment of personal relationships and responsibilities. Warning signs include spending increasing amounts on tickets, hiding lottery purchases from family members, borrowing money to play, feeling anxious or depressed about lottery outcomes, or neglecting work or family obligations. Every state lottery operates resources for individuals struggling with gambling problems, typically including free helpline numbers staffed by trained counselors and referrals to treatment programs.

The Role of Lottery Proceeds in Public Programs

Mega Millions and other lottery games serve an important function in state finances beyond entertainment value. A significant portion of ticket revenue is directed toward public programs and initiatives, with the specific allocation varying by state. Approximately 50 percent of each ticket’s purchase price remains within the state where it was sold, distributed among prize payments to winners, operating expenses for the lottery system, commissions to retailers who sell tickets, and funding for designated state programs.

The programs benefiting from lottery revenues vary widely across states but commonly include public education, infrastructure projects, parks and recreation facilities, programs for senior citizens, and economic development initiatives. Georgia directs lottery proceeds to the HOPE Scholarship program, which has provided college tuition assistance to hundreds of thousands of Georgia students since its inception. North Carolina uses lottery funds to support school construction, prekindergarten programs, and college scholarships. Pennsylvania allocates lottery profits to programs benefiting older residents, including property tax and rent rebates, free public transit, and prescription drug assistance. The significant contribution of lottery revenues to state budgets means that games like Mega Millions serve dual purposes of providing entertainment to players while simultaneously funding programs that benefit entire communities.

Looking Ahead to the December 26 Drawing

With no jackpot winner in the December 23 drawing, attention now turns to the Friday, December 26 drawing with an estimated jackpot of 125 million dollars and a cash value of 56 million dollars. The day-after-Christmas drawing offers players another opportunity to win substantial wealth during the holiday season, with ticket sales expected to remain strong as people continue their holiday celebrations. The timing of the drawing on the day after Christmas adds to the excitement, as winners could potentially close out 2025 with life-changing financial success.

Players purchasing tickets for the December 26 drawing should remember to do so before their state’s sales cutoff time, typically around 10:00 PM to 10:45 PM Eastern Time. Those unable to visit retail locations can utilize online purchasing options where available, ensuring they don’t miss the opportunity to participate. Whether selecting personal numbers with special significance or relying on Quick Pick random selection, every ticket has an equal chance of matching the winning combination when the drawing takes place at 11:00 PM Eastern Time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to claim a Mega Millions prize?

Most states allow 180 days from the drawing date to claim Mega Millions prizes, though this timeframe can vary by jurisdiction. Some states offer up to one year for jackpot claims specifically. Players should check their specific state lottery’s claim deadline and not delay in coming forward with winning tickets. Unclaimed prizes are typically returned to state lottery funds or used for future prizes and designated programs.

Can I remain anonymous if I win the Mega Millions jackpot?

The ability to remain anonymous varies significantly by state. A small number of states including Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas allow complete anonymity for lottery winners. Several other states permit winners to claim through trusts or limited liability companies, providing some privacy. Most states require public disclosure of winner names, cities of residence, and prize amounts, often requiring winners to participate in press conferences and publicity events.

What happens if multiple people win the jackpot?

If multiple tickets match all six winning numbers, the jackpot is divided equally among all winning tickets. For example, if two people win a 100 million dollar jackpot, each would receive 50 million dollars before taxes. This applies to both the annuity and cash options, with winners able to make their payment choice independently of other jackpot winners.

Are online lottery ticket purchases safe and legitimate?

Online purchases through official state lottery websites and apps are completely safe and legitimate. These platforms are operated directly by state lotteries and provide the same validity as retail purchases. However, players should be cautious of third-party websites and apps, using only services that are specifically licensed and authorized by their state lottery. Numerous fraudulent lottery sites operate illegally and should be avoided.

What’s the best strategy for picking Mega Millions numbers?

From a mathematical perspective, all number combinations have equal odds of winning. Quick Pick random selection is just as likely to win as carefully chosen numbers based on birthdays, anniversaries, or other significant dates. The main consideration is that commonly chosen numbers like birthdays limit selections to 1-31, potentially leading to shared jackpots if those numbers win, while Quick Picks and numbers above 31 may result in fewer winners sharing the prize if successful.

Conclusion

The December 23, 2025, Mega Millions drawing produced no jackpot winner despite widespread participation and holiday enthusiasm, with the winning numbers 15, 37, 38, 41, 64, and Mega Ball 21 failing to match any ticket perfectly. The drawing did create one new millionaire in California who matched all five white balls, along with thousands of smaller winners across participating states who claimed prizes ranging from 10 dollars to several thousand dollars depending on their number matches and multipliers.

The rollover to a 125 million dollar jackpot for the December 26 drawing continues what has been an extraordinary year for Mega Millions in 2025. The game has produced six confirmed jackpot winners throughout the year, including the record-breaking 980 million dollar prize won in Georgia in November, representing the largest single lottery prize in that state’s history. Other significant wins occurred in Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Arizona, and New Jersey, demonstrating the nationwide appeal and accessibility of the game.

The implementation of major game changes in April 2025, including the increased five dollar ticket price, automatic multiplier inclusion, and improved overall odds, has transformed the Mega Millions experience while maintaining the massive jackpot potential that makes the game attractive. Enhanced non-jackpot prizes, particularly the potential for five million dollar second-tier wins with the 10X multiplier, have created more substantial winners throughout all prize levels, not just at the jackpot tier.

As players look forward to the December 26 drawing and the potential to win 125 million dollars, the importance of responsible gaming remains paramount. The astronomical odds of 1 in 290 million for the jackpot mean that while winning is possible, it remains extremely unlikely for any individual ticket. Players should approach Mega Millions as entertainment, setting strict budgets and never spending money needed for essential expenses. The true value of lottery games extends beyond individual winners to include the substantial funding they provide for education, infrastructure, senior programs, and other public initiatives that benefit entire communities. Whether the next drawing produces a holiday season billionaire or continues the jackpot growth into 2026, Mega Millions remains one of America’s premier lottery games, offering dreams of wealth to millions of participants twice each week.

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