Mega Millions Jackpot Soars to $336 Million After No Winner on September 2 Drawing

The Mega Millions lottery held its drawing on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, with no jackpot winner emerging from the numbers drawn. The numbers for the September 2 drawing were 7, 17, 35, 40, and 64, with the Mega Ball number 23. This absence of a winning ticket means the jackpot swells to an estimated $336 million for the upcoming drawing on Friday, September 5, 2025.

Lotteries, as a popular form of gambling in the United States, draw significant public attention, particularly when the jackpots grow to substantial amounts. With an estimated $336 million at stake, the attraction for many remains the potential life-changing sum that could be won. This sizable prize offers a one-time cash payout option of approximately $151.3 million for those who prefer a lump sum.

The game operates on a basic premise: players choose six numbers from two separate pools—a format that includes five numbers ranging from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and an additional number between 1 and 24 (the gold Mega Ball). Alternatively, players can opt for a Quick Pick, which allows the lottery system to randomly generate numbers.

Recent changes to the game have altered ticket prices and prize structures. As of April 8, 2025, the cost of a Mega Millions ticket increased to $5 per play, which automatically includes a multiplier. This multiplier feature can amplify non-jackpot rewards by two, three, four, five, or ten times depending on what is assigned to the ticket at purchase.

Participants must navigate the odds of hitting the jackpot, which are notoriously slim: 1 in 290,472,336. Despite these odds, ticket sales remain robust, driven by the dream of hitting a major international lottery jackpot—a phenomenon that periodically occurs, as noted with a Virginia resident claiming $348 million in June 2025.

Globally, Mega Millions showcases a noteworthy record in jackpot winnings, with the pinnacle being a $1.58 billion prize in August 2023, claimed in Florida. The allure of these massive payouts often leads to increased ticket sales, not just in bricks-and-mortar outlets like gas stations and convenience stores, but also via online platforms in select jurisdictions.

As anticipation builds for the next drawing, participants gear up for the possibility of matching all six numbers, thus claiming the enormous prize. Mega Millions drawings occur regularly each Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Participants should ensure they purchase their tickets ahead of the respective deadlines, which vary by state but generally fall shortly before the drawing time.

The option for winners to receive payouts either through an annuity or as a single lump sum adds further intrigue to the game. The annuity consists of 30 payments, with the initial amount followed by annual increases of 5%, a strategic setup intended to maintain winners' purchasing power over time. Winners in specific states may also have the ability to declare their winning status anonymously, depending on local regulations.

For the upcoming drawing, prospective ticket buyers and current title holders eagerly await the chance to join the ranks of past Mega Millions winners, while analysts continue to speculate on the potential impact of subsequent prize distributions on state lottery finances and player participation. As the excitement mounts, the cycle of dreams begins anew with each ticket sold.