Mega Millions Winning Numbers Just Announced – Check Your Ticket Now

The Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 were 6 – 14 – 36 – 58 – 62, with the gold Mega Ball 24 and a 3X Megaplier. The draw sent anticipation soaring nationwide as players chased an estimated $336 million jackpot ($157.3 million cash option) that had been rolling since a single ticket hit in June. Record climb toward next Tuesday Because no ticket matched all six numbers Friday night, the top prize now projects to $386 million annuity for the Tuesday, Sept. 9 drawing—good for the eighth-largest Mega Millions purse of 2025. Officials will finalize the exact figure after sales close, but retailers from California to New Jersey are already reporting brisk traffic as casual dreamers join regular players ahead of the next cut-off. Did anyone win anything? While the grand prize rolled, lottery officials confirmed at least four second-tier tickets matched the five white balls to snag $1 million each—sold in Florida, Michigan, New York and Texas. One of those lucky slips included the optional Megaplier, automatically tripling the prize to $3 million. More than 1.8 million tickets overall won at least $2, meaning plenty of players will be cashing smaller checks this weekend. Where the jackpot now ranks Mega Millions and Powerball have traded headlines all summer, but the current Mega Millions pot still has ground to cover before cracking the billion-dollar club. The game’s all-time record remains the $1.602 billion hit in August 2023, followed by three other billion-plus runs in 2022 and 2024. Nevertheless, anything north of $300 million historically boosts ticket sales more than 35 percent, meaning each rollover accelerates the prize pool’s climb. Odds, payout choices & tax reminders • Odds of matching all six numbers remain 1 in 302,575,350. • Winners choose between the advertised annuity—30 graduated payments over 29 years—or the immediate cash option worth roughly 47 percent of the headline amount. • Federal withholding typically takes 24 percent upfront; state taxes vary from zero in Florida to 10.9 percent in New York. How to check your ticket Players can scan tickets at authorized retailers, use official state lottery apps, or compare numbers at MegaMillions.com immediately after each draw (held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET). Remember to sign the back of your ticket and store it in a safe place; you generally have 180 days to a full year to claim, depending on the jurisdiction. Strategies for the next draw While every combination has the same mathematical chance, experts suggest: • Buying as early as possible to avoid long lines. • Considering Quick Picks—around 70 percent of jackpots use computer-generated numbers. • If you select your own numbers, mix high and low digits instead of anniversary dates capped at 31. Where the money goes Roughly 60 percent of each Mega Millions ticket funds prizes; the remainder is split among retailer commissions, operating costs and public programs such as education, veterans’ services and environmental projects, depending on the state. Key takeaway With the Mega Millions jackpot leaping toward a projected $386 million and Friday’s winning numbers officially in the books (6-14-36-58-62, Mega Ball 24), now is the time to dust off your lucky charms, double-check old tickets and plan your play for Tuesday night. Keep it fun, set a budget and remember: it only takes one ticket to change your life forever.