Mega Millions followed a similar path. Its first jackpot winner in 2002 took home $28 million. Its record prize — a $1.602 billion jackpot won on Aug. 8, 2023 — ranks as the fourth-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history.

The Powerball jackpot rose to $467 million—the year’s fourth biggest lottery prize so far—after no tickets matched all six numbers drawn on Wednesday night, although the eventual winner will take home a much smaller payout after taxes and deductions.

A lucky Mega Millions winner in Georgia scored the $989 million jackpot after the longest drought in the history of the game — but they’ll end up walking away with a lot less than that. Friday’s winning ticket was bought in a Publix grocery store in ...