What is the Mega Millions Multiplier?
The Mega Millions Multiplier is a built-in non-jackpot prizes booster included in every Mega Millions entry. This article will walk you through what the Multiplier is and what it does.
Mega Millions, the popular multi-state lottery game, offers players the chance to win life-changing sums of money. To participate in a draw, participants simply need to purchase a ticket and select their numbers, making it an accessible and thrilling opportunity for anyone dreaming of a big win. It is important to purchase Mega Millions tickets well in advance to ensure participation in the upcoming draws.
What Does The Multiplier Do On Mega Millions?
Previously an optional add-on called the Megaplier, the Mega Millions Multiplier is a built-in prize-booster added to your Mega Millions ticket at no additional cost. It multiplies non-jackpot winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x times. Each line per play gets its own Mega Millions Multiplier number, assigned randomly at the time of purchase. The Multiplier doesn’t change your odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot or any of its additional 8 prize divisions prizes.
Mega Millions lottery draws take place twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. To participate in the draw, pick five main numbers from 1-70, and one Mega Ball number from 1-25. To win the jackpot, players must match all numbers – the 5 main ones and the 1 Mega Ball.
Understanding Mega Millions Prizes
Mega Millions offers a wide range of prizes, from the massive jackpot prize to smaller cash prizes. The jackpot prize is the largest and continues to grow until it is won by one or more lucky players. When multiple jackpot winners emerge, the prize is divided equally among them. In addition to the jackpot, there are eight other prize levels, ranging from $2 to $1 million. These prizes are awarded based on the number of balls matched, with the Mega Ball number being optional. For non-jackpot winnings, the Multiplier feature can significantly boost your prize, multiplying it by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. This means even if you don’t hit the jackpot, you still have the chance to win substantial cash prizes.
What Does The Multiplier Do On Mega Millions?
Previously an optional add-on called the Megaplier, the Mega Millions Multiplier is a built-in prize-booster added to your Mega Millions ticket at no additional cost. It multiplies non-jackpot winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x times. Each line per play gets its own Mega Millions Multiplier number, assigned randomly at the time of purchase. The Multiplier doesn’t change your odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot or any of its additional 8 prize divisions prizes.
Mega Millions lottery draws take place twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. To participate in the draw, pick five main numbers from 1-70, and one Mega Ball number from 1-25. To win the jackpot, players must match all numbers – the 5 main ones and the 1 Mega Ball.
How does the Multiplier Work?
Each Mega Millions entry includes a built-in Multiplier. The Multiplier is assigned randomly for each line (per entry) when the players place their order. The Multiplier number will appear on the right-hand side of each line, to the right of the Mega Ball number. Whenever a player wins any non-jackpot prize, the Multiplier will multiply that base prize amount by the Multiplier number for the corresponding winning line in their entry. The Multiplier number ranges between 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x times. It is important to validate a winning ticket through the official gaming system for final verification of winners.
Please note: the multiplier doesn’t impact the Mega Millions jackpot payout (nor the chances of winning it), but it has quite a substantial effect on the other eight prize-tiers this lottery offers:
| Match | Multiplier 2 | Multiplier 3 | Multiplier 4 | Multiplier 5 | Multiplier 10 |
| 5+MB* | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot |
| 5 | $2 million | $3 million | $4 million | $5 million | $10 million |
| 4+MB* | $20,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 | $100,000 |
| 4 | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| 3+MB* | $400 | $600 | $800 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| 3 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 | $100 |
| 2+MB* | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 | $100 |
| 1+MB* | $14 | $21 | $28 | $35 | $70 |
| 0+Mb* | $10 | $15 | $20 | $25 | $50 |
Prize amounts here don’t take into account any relevant taxes. Actual winnings may be smaller.
*Mega Ball
For example: Matching 5 main numbers earns you the second-tier prize of $1 million. With the Multiplier, your Mega Millions payout grows to a total of between $2 million and $10 million. Quite a difference, huh?
The History Of the Multiplier
First launched by the Texas Lottery in 2003, the Multiplier’s (previously known as Megaplier) initial function was similar to the original version of Powerball’s Power Play. Starting in 2010, the Megaplier feature also became part of the lottery’s offer in other states. As of April 2025, the Megaplier has become a built-in Multiplier feature. The Repeat Play feature for draw games allows players to quickly replay their favorite numbers using a scanned ticket, making it an efficient option for frequent players.
Mega Millions vs Powerball Multipliers
Like Mega Millions, Powerball also has a unique multiplier that boosts non-jackpot prizes. Let’s weigh the differences.
| Feature | Mega Millions (Multiplier) | Powerball (Power Play) |
| Cost | A built-in feature | $1 extra |
| Jackpot Boost | No | No |
| Multiplier Boost Cap | 10x | 10x (only if the jackpot prize value is less than $150 millions) |
| Maximum Second Prize Amount | $10 million | $2 million (a fixed amount) |
As you can see, Mega Millions’ Multiplier is a built-in feature, included in every entry, whereas activating Powerball’s Power Play option requires an extra fee. While the Multiplier is assigned randomly for each line per entry, the Power Play is drawn before each draw and applies to all the entries with the Power Play option in that particular draw. Otherwise, both features boost non-jackpot prizes by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X and 10X.
