On a recent Friday night, a Virginia Mega Millions player made headlines by winning a staggering $348 million jackpot, marking a significant milestone for the state. This victory ended a lengthy drought of 20 consecutive draws without a major win in the lottery. It also represents the largest Mega Millions prize ever awarded in Virginia’s history, a remarkable achievement for a ticket sold at the E & C VA convenience store in Burgess, located 85 miles northeast of Richmond. The momentous occasion aligns with a pivotal shift in the game’s structure, which was revamped earlier this year in April.
The winning numbers for this life-changing ticket were 18, 21, 29, 42, and 50, with the gold Mega Ball being 2. Winning the jackpot was no small feat, as the odds stood at an astonishing 1 in 290,472,336. Following this win, the unidentified ticket holder faces the exciting choice of either receiving the full $348 million in installments over a span of 30 years or opting for a one-time cash payout, estimated to be around $155.5 million. According to lottery regulations, winners have a span of 180 days to claim their prizes.
Historically, the previous Mega Millions record for Virginia was held by retired truck driver JR Triplett, who won $239 million in 2004 and chose to take a lump sum of $140 million before taxes. Since the inception of Mega Millions in 2002, Virginia has generated a total of ten winners. The last victor from the state was Kevin Young, who in July 2016 matched all six numbers in a $15 million jackpot shared with Christina Ford from Georgia.
The recent jackpot win was particularly noteworthy as it marked the fourth jackpot awarded in 2025 and the second since significant changes were made to the format in April. These alterations, branded as “bigger and better,” led to enhanced prize offerings for non-jackpot winners and improved odds of winning the jackpot. Notably, the starting jackpot was raised to $50 million from the previous $20 million, while ticket prices increased from $2 to $5, an adjustment that has seemingly paid off.
The revised format has already shown its merits, resulting in notable wins since its implementation. Within days of the changes, a jackpot worth $112 million was claimed by the Ironwood Family Trust in South Euclid, Oregon. In total, two additional jackpots under the old system were awarded in 2025: one to an anonymous winner in Tempe, Arizona, and another to a player in Cortland, Illinois, who took home $349 million. These wins reflect a broader trend in the lottery, which aims to attract more participants through larger and more enticing jackpots.
Considering the overall landscape of Mega Millions, the lottery continues to evolve. In December 2024, a staggering $1.269 billion jackpot was won by Rosemary Casarotti in California, the largest of the year and the fifth largest in the game’s history. This highlights the ongoing allure of lotteries, as they offer players the chance to dream big and potentially change their lives forever. As Virginia celebrates its historic Mega Millions win, it stands as a testament to the enduring hope and excitement that lottery games bring to players nationwide.
