News writer
Friday the 13th might have a reputation for bad luck, but Mega Millions players have plenty of reasons to disagree. The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to an estimated $555 million for Friday, November 13, 2026, giving players another chance to turn the supposedly unlucky date into a massive payday. And it wouldn't be the first time.
Since 2008, seven Mega Millions jackpot drawings held on Friday the 13th have produced winning tickets, with advertised prizes totaling approximately $1.77 billion. From a billion-dollar payday in Maine to multiple winners in Michigan, the date has delivered some unforgettable lottery moments.
Seven jackpots on Friday the 13th
According to Mega Millions, Friday the 13th has produced jackpot winners in several states over the years. Here's a look at those lucky drawings:
- June 13, 2008: A Michigan player won $57 million.
- March 13, 2009: A New York ticket won $26 million.
- May 13, 2011: A Michigan player claimed $27 million.
- June 13, 2014: A Michigan player won $66 million.
- November 13, 2015: An Ohio ticket landed a $202 million jackpot.
- October 13, 2017: Michigan and Rhode Island tickets split a $42 million jackpot.
- January 13, 2023: A Maine ticket won a staggering $1.35 billion.
That final jackpot stands out as the biggest Friday the 13th Mega Millions win. The winning ticket was purchased in Lebanon, Maine, and the prize was eventually claimed through LaKoma Island Investments, LLC.
The Ohio win in 2015 is also particularly interesting. That $202 million jackpot was won on November 13, exactly 11 years before tonight's drawing. Could the same date deliver another massive payday?
Michigan has been especially lucky
While Friday the 13th has produced winners across the country, Michigan has enjoyed an impressive run. Four of the seven jackpot drawings produced winning tickets in the state, including the shared $42 million jackpot with Rhode Island in 2017.
Those four Michigan tickets accounted for $171 million in jackpot prizes. Michigan's largest Friday the 13th Mega Millions win came on June 13, 2014, when a Port Huron woman won $66 million.
The state also celebrated a $57 million win in 2008 and a $27 million jackpot in 2011.
It's been nine years since Michigan's last Friday the 13th jackpot win. Tonight gives players another opportunity to add to that history.
$555 million up for grabs tonight
Friday's estimated $555 million jackpot comes with a cash option of approximately $235.2 million before taxes.
The jackpot continued growing after nobody matched all six numbers in Tuesday's drawing. The last Mega Millions jackpot was won July 28, 2026, when a ticket sold in Bradenton, Florida, claimed an $803 million prize.
Mega Millions tickets cost $5 per play, with drawings held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time. Players must match five white balls from 1 to 70 and the Mega Ball from 1 to 24 to win the jackpot.
The odds of hitting all six numbers are 1 in 290.47 million.
Will Friday the 13th strike again?
Seven jackpot drawings and approximately $1.77 billion in prizes certainly make Friday the 13th an interesting date in Mega Millions history.
Of course, the calendar doesn't change the odds. Every drawing is independent, regardless of whether it falls on a supposedly lucky or unlucky day.
Still, with $555 million on the line, lottery players have plenty of reasons to watch Friday night's drawing. Will Friday the 13th deliver its eighth Mega Millions jackpot-winning drawing, or will the prize continue climbing?
Enjoy playing the lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
