Mega Millions Jackpot Hits $473 Million

Winning numbers drawn for Tuesday, March 3, 2026 drawing

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Mega Millions lottery has selected the winning numbers for the Tuesday, March 3, 2026 drawing, with a jackpot of $473 million. A single winning ticket was sold in Arkansas for the $250.8 million Powerball drawing on the same night. The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, March 6.

Why it matters

Mega Millions and Powerball are two of the largest national lottery games in the United States, with massive jackpots that capture public attention and generate excitement around the possibility of life-changing windfalls. These record-breaking jackpots also raise questions about the role of lotteries in society and their impact on lower-income communities.

The details

Tuesday's Mega Millions winning numbers were 7-21-53-54-62 Mega Ball 16. The Powerball jackpot for the same night was $250.8 million, with a single winning ticket sold in Arkansas. The next Mega Millions drawing on Friday, March 6 has a $20 million jackpot, while the Classic Lotto in Ohio has a $2.1 million jackpot for the Wednesday, March 4 drawing.

  • The Mega Millions drawing took place on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
  • The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, March 6, 2026.
  • The Powerball drawing that produced a $250.8 million winner also occurred on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
  • The next Classic Lotto drawing in Ohio is set for Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

The players

Mega Millions

A multi-state lottery game with drawings held twice weekly.

Powerball

Another multi-state lottery game with drawings held three times per week.

Classic Lotto

An Ohio-specific lottery game with drawings held three times per week.

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The takeaway

These record-breaking lottery jackpots highlight the public's continued fascination with the possibility of instant wealth, even as debates continue around the societal impacts of state-run lotteries. As the games grow in scale, questions persist about their accessibility, fairness, and long-term effects on individuals and communities.