The Mega Millions jackpot has surged to $800 million, marking the 10th largest prize in the game's history. As the drawing approaches, lottery hopefuls across the nation are seeking any advantage they can find.
An analysis of more than a year's worth of Mega Millions drawings, encompassing 136 drawings dating back to April 8, 2025, has identified numbers that have appeared most frequently on winning tickets. The number 40 has been drawn 17 times, topping the list of "lucky" white balls.
Following closely are the numbers 18, 42, and 49, each drawn 16 times. The numbers 56 and 63 have each appeared 15 times. Other frequently drawn white balls include 10 and 17, which have appeared 14 times. Among the "red balls" (Mega Balls), the numbers 11, 13, 24, 38, and 43 have each been drawn 13 times. The numbers 7, 16, and 24 have appeared nine times each, while 12 has been drawn 11 times, and 1 has appeared once.
Conversely, the analysis also highlighted less fortunate numbers. The digits 1, 3, 20, 28, 29, 46, and 67 have each been drawn a mere five times since the game's overhaul, making them the least frequent white balls. For Mega Ball players, the numbers 11 and 15 have shown up only twice in the past 15 months.
Lottery tickets cost $5 per play. While the odds of winning are statistically improbable, the allure of an $800 million jackpot may lead even the most pragmatic individuals to consider these statistical trends when selecting their numbers.