How the July 2022 Mega Millions Jackpot Passed $1 Billion

In late July 2022, the Mega Millions jackpot climbed above $1 billion after a long run without a jackpot winner.

The final jackpot for the July 29, 2022 drawing was $1.337 billion, with a cash option of approximately $780.5 million before taxes.

The winning drawing

The winning numbers on July 29 were 13, 36, 45, 57 and 67, with Mega Ball 14.

One jackpot winning ticket was sold at the Speedway at 885 East Touhy Avenue in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Why headlines showed different amounts

Jackpot estimates can rise before a drawing as ticket sales change. Contemporary stories during the run used figures such as $1.02 billion, $1.1 billion or $1.28 billion before the final advertised amount was established.

Those reports were not necessarily wrong when published. They captured different stages of the same jackpot run.

What happened later

The winning ticket was eventually claimed in September 2022 through The Saltines LLC. The individuals behind the entity were not publicly identified.

Current Mega Millions jackpots should always be checked through the official game or the participating lottery because jackpot values change from drawing to drawing.