On January 28, 2022, the Mega Millions lottery reached a remarkable jackpot of $421 million, captivating the attention of millions across the United States. This article delves into the details of that drawing, exploring the numbers, the winners, and the impact of the prize.
The Winning Numbers
The numbers drawn on January 28, 2022, were:
White Balls: 3, 16, 25, 44, 55
Mega Ball: 13
Megaplier: 3×
Jackpot Details
The jackpot prize of $421 million could be claimed in two ways:
Annuity Option: An annual payment over 29 years, with the first payment immediately.
Cash Lump Sum: A one-time payment of $289.5 million.
Prize Breakdown
In addition to the jackpot, there were several other prize tiers:
Match 5 (no Mega Ball): $1 million
Match 4 + Mega Ball: $10,000
Match 4: $500
Match 3 + Mega Ball: $200
Match 3: $10
Match 2 + Mega Ball: $10
Match 1 + Mega Ball: $4
Match 0 + Mega Ball: $2
With the Megaplier option, non-jackpot prizes could be multiplied by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. On January 28, the Megaplier was 3, tripling certain prizes.
Number of Winners
The drawing resulted in 1,167,184 winning tickets across all prize tiers. The distribution of winners was as follows:
Match 5 + Mega Ball: 1 winner
Match 5: 3 winners
Match 4 + Mega Ball: 24 winners
Match 4: 595 winners
Match 3 + Mega Ball: 1,720 winners
Match 3: 37,351 winners
Match 2 + Mega Ball: 34,561 winners
Match 1 + Mega Ball: 262,707 winners
Match 0 + Mega Ball: 614,122 winners
Jackpot Winner Details
The sole jackpot-winning ticket was purchased in Woodland Hills, California. The identity of the winner was not immediately disclosed, following California’s policy of allowing winners to remain anonymous if they choose.
Impact on Future Jackpots
With the $421 million jackpot claimed, the Mega Millions jackpot reset to its starting value of $20 million for the next drawing. This reset is standard procedure after a jackpot win, ensuring that future drawings continue to offer substantial prizes.
Conclusion
The Mega Millions drawing of January 28, 2022, was a significant event, offering players across the nation a chance at a life-changing prize. While only one ticket secured the jackpot, thousands of others walked away with substantial prizes, highlighting the widespread appeal and excitement of the Mega Millions lottery.
