Everyone has that ritual. You're standing at the gas station counter, staring at the neon sign, and you think, "Why not?" On December 10, 2024, a lot of people were thinking exactly that. The air was getting crisp, holiday shopping was hitting a fever pitch, and the Mega Millions jackpot was sitting at a staggering $619 million.
It’s a life-changing amount of money. The kind of money that buys islands or, at the very least, pays off your mortgage and your cousin’s mortgage too.
The Mega Millions Dec 10 2024 Winning Numbers
If you’ve still got a crumpled ticket in your glove box or under a magnet on the fridge, here is the moment of truth. The numbers drawn on that Tuesday night were:
12, 14, 26, 48, 52 and the Mega Ball was 21.
The Megaplier for the evening was 5x.
Now, if you’re looking at your ticket and seeing a bunch of numbers that don’t match, you aren't alone. Honestly, the odds are pretty brutal. We’re talking 1 in 302,575,350 to hit the big one. To put that in perspective, you’re significantly more likely to be struck by lightning while being bitten by a shark. Okay, maybe not that bad, but it’s close.
Did Anyone Actually Win?
Short answer: No.
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Nobody hit the big jackpot that night. The $619 million stayed right where it was, which meant it rolled over to a projected $670 million for the following Friday. It's funny how we get. When the jackpot is "only" $20 million, nobody cares. But once it crosses that half-billion mark? Everyone from your boss to your mailman is suddenly a lottery strategist.
Even though the main prize went unclaimed, the night wasn't a total bust. Far from it.
Four very lucky individuals managed to match all five white balls, missing only the gold Mega Ball. Those tickets were sold in California (two of them), Maryland, and Florida.
Now, here is where the Megaplier comes into play. The winners in California and Maryland walked away with $1 million each. But the person in Florida? They had opted for the Megaplier. Because the Megaplier drawn was 5x, that $1 million prize ballooned into a **$5 million payout**. That’s the difference between buying a nice house and buying a nice house with a private jet fund.
Why the Megaplier is Kinda the Secret Hero
Most people skip the extra dollar for the Megaplier. They figure if they're going to win, they want the hundreds of millions, not a slightly bigger "small" prize. But look at that Florida winner. For one extra buck, they turned a great night into a legendary one.
In Ohio, for instance, while nobody became a millionaire on Dec 10, over 37,000 people won something. Most of those prizes were $2 or $4—basically enough to buy another ticket and try again—but for the few who hit the lower tiers with a 5x multiplier, those $10 and $500 prizes actually started to look like real money.
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The 10th Largest Jackpot?
At the time of the drawing, the $619 million figure was flirting with history. It was positioned to be the 10th largest jackpot in the game's history if someone had won it.
Lottery fatigue is a real thing, though. We’ve become so used to billion-dollar prizes that $619 million almost feels... normal? It shouldn't. If you took that $619 million as a lump sum (which was estimated at around $292.6 million before taxes), you’d be wealthier than many professional athletes and Hollywood stars.
Real Stories: The "Almost" Winners
The Texas Lottery reported that they had nearly 97,000 winners in their state alone for this specific draw. None of them took home the jackpot or even the $1 million second prize. The highest prize won in Texas that night was $500 (or $2,500 for those who Megaplied).
It’s a bit of a gut punch. You see "Mega Millions Dec 10 2024 Winning Numbers" trending, you check your ticket, you see a 12 and a 14, and your heart starts racing. Then you see the 26 and you're practically hyperventilating. But then the rest of the numbers don't show up.
Lottery officials often see a spike in "lost" tickets or people claiming they had the numbers but threw the ticket away when the jackpot gets this high. Pro tip: sign the back of your ticket immediately. It’s a legal document. If you lose it and haven’t signed it, whoever finds it owns it.
What to Do if You Actually Won
Let’s say you did match some numbers on Dec 10. Most states give you 180 days to a year to claim your prize.
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- Check the expiration. Don't let $1 million sit in a drawer until it's worthless.
- Consult a pro. If you won more than $50,000, talk to a tax lawyer. The IRS is going to want their cut, and it's a big one (usually 24% off the top for federal, plus whatever your state demands).
- Stay quiet. You've seen the stories. Long-lost relatives start crawling out of the woodwork the second your name is in the paper.
The Dec 10 drawing was part of a long "dry spell" that started after a massive $810 million win in Texas back in September 2024. That's how these games work. They build and build, creating this national fever, until one person (or a very lucky group of coworkers) finally hits the right combination.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Ticket
Check your tickets against the official tallies on the Mega Millions website or through your state's official lottery app. Third-party sites are usually fine, but when there's millions on the line, go to the source.
If you are playing in a pool, make sure you have everything in writing. A simple text thread or a photocopy of the tickets shared with the group can prevent a massive legal headache later. People get weird when money is involved.
Double-check the Megaplier. If you won $10, it might actually be $50. If you won $500, it might be $2,500. It's worth the five seconds of math.
Finally, keep it fun. The odds are astronomical, and the lottery should be treated as entertainment, not a retirement plan. The real winners of the Dec 10, 2024, draw were the state programs funded by ticket sales—usually education and infrastructure—and, of course, that lucky person in Florida who is now $5 million richer.
If you’re still hunting for a win, the next drawing is always just a few days away. Just remember: 12, 14, 26, 48, 52, and 21. Those were the ones that almost changed everything.