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Powerball vs Mega Millions
Jackpot odds are almost identical. Powerball is cheaper (US$2) and drawn three times a week; Mega Millions costs US$5 but pays multiplied lower prizes and starts from a bigger jackpot (US$50 million).[1][2]
1Key differences
| Mega Millions | Powerball | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | US$5 | US$2 (+US$1 Power Play) |
| Numbers | 5 of 70 + 1 of 24 | 5 of 69 + 1 of 26 |
| Results in SA | Wed and Sat mornings | Tue, Thu and Sun mornings |
| Multiplier | Included, 2x–10x | Optional, 2x–10x |
| Starting jackpot | US$50 million | US$20 million |
| Jackpot odds | 1 in 290,472,336 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Any prize | 1 in 23.07 | 1 in 24.87 |
| Record jackpot | US$1.602 billion (2023) | US$2.04 billion (2022)[3] |
2Prizes tier by tier
| Match | Mega Millions | Powerball |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + bonus ball | Jackpot | Jackpot |
| 5 | US$1,000,000 | US$1,000,000 |
| 4 + bonus ball | US$10,000 | US$50,000 |
| 4 | US$500 | US$100 |
| 3 + bonus ball | US$200 | US$100 |
| 3 | US$10 | US$7 |
| 2 + bonus ball | US$7 | US$7 |
| 1 + bonus ball | US$7 | US$4 |
| bonus ball only | US$5 | US$4 |
3Which suits your budget
- Small budget: Powerball. US$10 buys 5 lines instead of 2.
- You want mid-size prizes: Mega Millions. Even at the lowest multiplier (2x), 4 matches pay at least US$1,000 (Powerball: US$100) and 3 + bonus ball US$400 (Powerball: US$100). The exception is 4 + bonus ball: Powerball pays US$50,000, Mega Millions from US$20,000.
- Only the jackpot matters: it makes little difference; play whichever jackpot is bigger that week.
More detail: Mega Millions prizes · Powerball prizes.
4Frequently asked questions
Which is easier to win, Powerball or Mega Millions?
The jackpot is almost equally hard (1 in 292.2 million vs 1 in 290.5 million). For smaller prizes Mega Millions is slightly easier: 1 in 23.07 vs 1 in 24.87.
Which pays more?
Per play, Mega Millions pays bigger lower-tier prizes because the multiplier is included, but each play costs US$5 against US$2. On the same budget Powerball gives you 2.5 times as many plays.
Which has bigger jackpots?
Both pass US$1 billion. The all-time record is Powerball's US$2.04 billion (2022); the Mega Millions record is US$1.602 billion (2023).
Sources
- Powerball. "Prizes and Odds", official prize chart. powerball.com
- South Dakota Lottery. "Mega Millions Update" (2025): new prize chart and odds. lottery.sd.gov
- Associated Press (via The Washington Times), "The 10 largest US lottery prizes ever won", 16 Dec 2025. m.washingtontimes.com