- - Mega Millions winning numbers for Jan. 2 drawing: $157M jackpot

Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY January 2, 2026 at 9:00 PM

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The jackpot for the first Mega Millions drawing of 2026 on Friday, Jan. 2, stands at $157 million after no one took home the big prize on Dec. 30.

If one lucky person hits the jackpot, they’ll have two options: take home a one-time, lump-sum cash payment of $72 million, or receive an immediate payment followed by annual checks, each 5% larger than the previous year.

The Mega Millions saw six different winners in 2025, the latest of which happened on Dec. 2 in New Jersey, where one lucky player took home a $90 million jackpot.

Here are the winning numbers for Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.

Lottery tickets for the Mega Millions lottery are purchased from a liquor store where winning tickets have been sold on December 27, 2024 in Hawthorne, California.

More: 'Keep it quiet:' Here's what to know and do if you win the Mega Millions jackpot

What are the winning Mega Millions numbers for 1/2/2026?

The winning numbers for the Friday, Jan. 2, Mega Millions jackpot: 6-13-34-43-52 and the gold Mega Ball: 4

What is Mega Millions?

Mega Millions is a lottery played in 45 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Each ticket costs $5, and players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers - five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Ball) - or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick.

You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a drawing. In the event of multiple jackpot winners, the jackpot prize will be shared.

Thomas Cook and Joseph Feeney of Wisconsin agreed years ago to split future lottery winnings. Cook followed through on that promise when he won a $22 million prize on June 10, 2020.

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Thomas Cook and Joseph Feeney of Wisconsin agreed years ago to split future lottery winnings. Cook followed through on that promise when he won a $22 million prize on June 10, 2020.

">Thomas Cook and Joseph Feeney of Wisconsin agreed years ago to split future lottery winnings. Cook followed through on that promise when he won a $22 million prize on June 10, 2020.

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1 / 17See Powerball and Mega Millions winners who hit the jackpotTennessee Lottery CEO Rebecca Paul, left, walks with an excited Janis Goodwin, middle and Frances Davenport as they prepare to pick up their million-dollar Powerball check at the lottery headquarters in Nashville on Oct. 3, 2005.

More: The $1.8B Powerball jackpot winner can stay anonymous. For now.

Top 10 Mega Millions Jackpots -

$1.602 billion on Aug. 8, 2023 in Florida

$1.537 billion on Oct. 23, 2018 in South Carolina

$1.348 billion on Jan. 1, 2023 in Maine

$1.337 billion on July. 29, 2022 in Illinois

$1.269 billion on Dec. 27, 2024 in California

$1.128 billion on Mar. 26, 2024 in New Jersey

$1.05 billion on Jan 22, 2021 in Michigan

$983 million on Nov. 14, 2025 in Georgia

$810 million on Sept. 10, 2024 in Texas

$656 million on Mar. 30, 2012 in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland

How to play the Mega Millions

In order to play the lottery, you need to pick six numbers. Five of them will be white balls numbered 1 to 70. The gold Mega Ball ranges from 1 to 24.

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of selecting the numbers, you can ask for a “Quick Pick” or an “Easy Pick.” These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you.

Mega Millions tickets now include a built-in multiplier, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five, or 10 times. Before, players had to pay an extra dollar to add the “Megaplier.”

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Mega Millions tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.

The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.

(This story has been with new information.)

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mega Millions winning numbers for Jan. 2 drawing: $157M jackpot

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