You’ve checked the fridge. You’ve checked the bedside table. Maybe you even dug through the center console of your car, moving aside old receipts and stray gum wrappers to find that one piece of paper that could change your entire life. We’ve all been there. It’s that split second before you look at the New York State Mega Millions winning numbers where you’ve already spent the first ten million in your head.
Honestly, the odds are terrible. We know this. But New Yorkers keep playing because, in this state, people actually win. Just look at Johnnie Taylor from Howard Beach, who hauled in $476 million back in 2023. Or the "Goodtimez LLC" group that snatched $432 million from a ticket bought at a Manhattan pizzeria. It happens.
The Numbers That Just Dropped
If you’re here because you’ve got a ticket in your hand right now, let’s get straight to it. For the most recent drawing on Friday, January 16, 2026, the numbers you were looking for were:
2 – 22 – 33 – 42 – 67 and the Mega Ball was 1.
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The Megaplier for that night was 1x.
If nobody hit the big one, the jackpot for the next drawing on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, is already climbing toward an estimated $250 million. The cash option? Somewhere around $113.5 million. It’s a staggering amount of money, though it’s funny how we’ve become so desensitized that "only" a quarter-billion feels like a "small" jackpot compared to those billion-dollar monsters we see every other year.
What happened on Tuesday?
Earlier that week, on January 13, the numbers were 16 – 40 – 56 – 64 – 66 with a Mega Ball of 4. New York didn't see a jackpot winner then either, but the state did report a "Big Money" winner. This usually means a $1 million Match 5 prize or a substantial Megaplier win. Someone out there is having a very good week, even if they aren't retiring to their own private island just yet.
Why the $5 Ticket Changed Everything
You might have noticed that your local bodega guy asked for more money recently. That’s because, as of April 2025, the price of a Mega Millions ticket jumped from $2 to $5.
Yeah, it’s a steep hike.
Lottery officials, including New York’s own, argue that this change makes the game better. They claim the odds of hitting the jackpot actually improved slightly—moving from 1 in 302 million to about 1 in 290 million. Plus, the starting jackpot is now $50 million instead of the old $20 million floor. They’re betting that New Yorkers want faster-growing, "mega-sized" prizes and are willing to pay the price of a fancy latte to get a shot at them.
The $10 minimum prize is another silver lining. If you match just the Mega Ball now, you get ten bucks back. It doesn't make you rich, but it pays for your next two tickets.
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The Tax Man in Albany Wants His Cut
Let’s get real about the "winning" part. If you actually see those New York State Mega Millions winning numbers on your ticket, you aren't getting the number on the billboard. Not even close.
New York is notorious for being one of the least "winner-friendly" states when it comes to taxes. First, the feds take 24% right off the top. Then, New York State takes its share, which is roughly 10.9%.
Wait, it gets better. Or worse.
If you live in New York City, you’re looking at an additional city tax. By the time everyone has dipped their hand into your pockets, you might only be taking home about half of the "cash value" of the jackpot. For that $250 million jackpot coming up, the cash value is $113.5 million. After taxes, a NYC resident might walk away with roughly $60-$70 million.
Still enough to buy a nice apartment and never look at a subway map again, but a far cry from a quarter-billion.
New Rules for 2026
Since we’re now in 2026, there’s a new tax wrinkle to worry about. The IRS recently changed the rules on gambling losses. You can still deduct your losses—meaning all those losing tickets you’ve kept in a shoebox—but for the 2026 tax year, those deductions are now capped at 90% of your winnings. It’s a small change for most, but if you’re a high-volume player, it’s something to mention to your accountant.
How to Check Your Numbers Without Getting Scammed
Don't trust a random screenshot on social media. People love to troll by Photoshopping winning numbers onto old tickets. It's cruel.
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- The Official App: The New York Lottery app is the gold standard. You can scan your ticket directly with your phone camera.
- Official Site: Head to
nylottery.ny.gov. It’s the only place where the data is 100% verified. - Drawing Times: Remember, the balls drop at 11:00 PM ET every Tuesday and Friday.
- Draw Break: In New York, you can’t buy a ticket between 10:45 PM and 11:00 PM on drawing nights. If you show up at the counter at 10:46, you’re buying for the next drawing.
The Persistence of Robert Bailey
If you think your numbers are "due," consider the story of Robert Bailey. This guy, a retired federal employee from Manhattan, played the exact same numbers for 25 years. He finally hit a $343.8 million Powerball jackpot in 2018.
Is there a lesson there? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just the "gambler’s fallacy" in action. There is no such thing as a "hot" number. Each drawing is a completely independent event. The machine doesn’t remember that 22 came up last week; it has no memory and no soul. It’s just physics and plastic balls.
What to Do If You Actually Win
If you look down and see the New York State Mega Millions winning numbers staring back at you, do not run to the TV station.
First, sign the back of that ticket. It’s a bearer instrument. If you lose it and someone else finds it, and you haven't signed it, it's theirs.
Second, shut up. Don’t post a "Guess who's rich!" status on Facebook. You need a "Wealth Defense Team"—a lawyer, a tax pro, and a financial advisor who deals with high-net-worth individuals. In New York, you generally can’t stay anonymous unless you claim the prize through an LLC, like the Goodtimez group did. Your lawyer will help you set that up so your neighbors don't start knocking on your door asking for "loans."
Actionable Next Steps
- Double-check your Tuesday tickets: If you haven't checked the January 13 numbers (16-40-56-64-66, MB 4), do it now. A "Big Money" ticket was sold in the state, and it might be sitting in your pocket.
- Set a hard limit: With tickets now costing $5, it's easy to burn through $50 at the self-service terminal without realizing it. Play for the dream, but don't play with the rent money.
- Plan your claim: If you have a winning ticket over $600, you’ll need to visit a New York Lottery Customer Service Center. There are locations in Manhattan, Long Island, Albany, and beyond.
- Keep your old tickets until the 2026 tax season: Since you can deduct losses up to 90% of your winnings, that stack of "not-this-time" tickets actually has a specific tax value if you ever hit a mid-tier prize.