DENVER — With the jackpot in Friday's Mega Millions drawing sitting at a sweet $1.28 billion, you might be dreaming of that moment when you realize you've matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball and you're suddenly a billionaire.
But how well have Coloradans fared in this national game over the years? Let's dig in.
According to data from the Colorado Lottery website, there have been 1,997 cashed-in winning tickets of $111 or more in the state since the game became available to play here in May 2010.
In the entire 12-year history of Mega Millions in Colorado, there haven't been any jackpot winners in the state. The last time anyone in the state won $1 million or more was about three years ago, in June 2019.
The state's top winning prize ever was $4 million, which happened twice – in February 2016 with a ticket sold in Loveland, and in May 2018 with a ticket sold in Denver.
Two lucky Coloradans have won $2 million in Mega Millions. The first was in Greeley in July 2016, and the second in Aurora in June 2019.
The state boasts nine winners of $1 million:
- August 2010 in Golden
- March 2011 in Arvada
- April 2012 in Brighton
- May 2012 in Denver
- November 2012 in Colorado Springs
- November 2012 in Cascade
- December 2013 in Centennial
- October 2016 in Denver
- October 2018 in Thornton
There were also 12 $250,000 tickets cashed in before the game bumped up its second prize to $1 million in October 2013.
What if you're content with matching 4 numbers? Here are the numbers of Colorado winners who have cashed in tickets worth between $10,000 and $50,000:
- $50,000 – 6
- $40,600 – 1
- $40,000 – 23
- $30,000 – 34
- $25,000 – 11
- $20,000 – 25
- $15,000 – 13
- $10,000 – 143
So far this year in Colorado, the top Mega Millions prize has been $30,000, cashed in twice, in Golden and Roosevelt. There have also been two $20,000 winners and five $10,000 winners this year.
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