Lucky ticket in North Carolina wins $2 million playing Mega Millions

January 17, 2026 Posted by NC Lottery at 10:35 AM

A lucky ticket purchased at a grocery store in Randolph County won a $2 million prize in Friday’s Mega Millions drawing.

The winner purchased the $5 ticket at H&M Grocery on U.S. 311 South in Sophia and matched the numbers on all five white balls to win $1 million. With the new built-in multiplier, the prize doubled to $2 million.

Two Mega Millions tickets returned a $2 million prize in Friday’s drawing, the largest prize won nationally. A player in Texas purchased the other $2 million winning ticket. The odds of matching numbers on all five white balls are 1 in 12.6 million.

The winner has 180 days to claim their prize.

The jackpot for Tuesday’s drawing offers $250 million as an annuity, or $113.5 million cash. The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 290 million.

Players can buy Mega Millions tickets at any lottery retail location, through Online Play on the lottery’s website or by using the NC Lottery Official Mobile App.

27 COMMENTS

1/27/2026 12:02 - Angela A.

@NCEL why was my comment posted then removed, because it told the truth about your games?

1/26/2026 04:04 - Brian T.

The multiplier is supposed to be 2x to 10x. But since Mega Millions went to a predetermined multiplier because of the price increase on their $5 per play ticket, the multiplier stays at 2x or 3x. It's a joke at this point. Those greedy executives, stategists, etc. on the lottery boards should congratulate themselves on pricing out the general public on a rigged game. They'll lose out to Powerball until they go up on their price to match the ridiculousness. Good luck to us all.

1/23/2026 02:38 - Angela A.

@NCEL well I must say I have purchased several books of tickets myself $2 book, $5 book, $10 book, and $20 book SMH I have not made a profit on no book I purchased...So when I was playing I just went back to few tickets on different rolls different stores still a big loser, but books sure was not my friend!

1/21/2026 03:27 - Christopher S.

If you expect me to believe that the NCEL has "No control" over when or where winning tickets are sold then your crazy. If that were the case then the NCEL would be the most mismanaged company in the history of mankind lol. I do really enjoy playing but with losing on 17 out of 20 books of tickets is insane, we will see how much longer I can stand it, thank you for your response but I would rather have been told the cold hard truth. Have a blessed day.

1/20/2026 10:06 - Christopher S.

I have a question. It has been over 2 years since a top prize has been won on several scratch off games ( 5 million ultimate & diamond deluxe ) to be specific. That just BLOWS my mind. I have never seen this in any other state lottery. How can you explain this? I just purchased my 20th book of 5 million ultimate and have lost money on 17 out of 20 with the highest amount of winning being $1,480 on a $900 book of tickets. I really don't know how you expect to keep players like me around for much longer. South Carolina lottery is looking pretty good right now. I really enjoy playing but you can't win EVERYTIME!!!NC Lottery
Hi, the lottery doesn't have any control over when or where winning tickets are sold - it doesn't work that way. Prizes are distributed at random throughout the entire printing run for a game, and then as stores order more tickets, more rolls of tickets are shipped to each store. There's no way of telling when or where a winning ticket will show up until a lucky player scratches one off!

1/20/2026 08:43 - shirley b.

NCEL is there a other 3 in the pot? 333 is 6 years over due? Ya'll dont eveven see that anything is wrong. There is a problem is somewhere. Hopefully this will not take 6 more years to drop 333.NC Lottery
We love it when popular numbers are drawn and players win lots of money because it makes players happy. However, we have strict rules in place to ensure that every set of numbers, regardless of popularity, or how recently it has come up, has exactly the same chance of being drawn in every drawing. Our drawings are independent events, meaning the results of previous drawings have no bearing on the results of future drawings. That combination could have been drawn yesterday, last year, or never, and the odds of it being drawn again today would still be 1 in 1,000. We hope your favorite number hits soon!

1/20/2026 04:12 - Brian T.

Sonya you're right, we're not made to play. Folks aren't required to invest in Wall Street either. However, you do expect your money to be handled legally when you invest it. Unfortunately, that's not happening when it comes to government-regulated nationwide multi-state lotteries. I hope this helps. Good luck to us all.

1/19/2026 07:37 - Jeff S.

Congratulations on your life changing win!!! Don't spend it on digital games no money there. Been playing since it started never won a dime.

1/19/2026 06:17 - Carl W.

I would like to see and hear about more people winning online Lotto right now I don't know been doing it for 2 years now still haven't made up my mind.NC Lottery
It definitely takes a lot of luck to be a big winner! However, no matter where you play, whether in person or online, your odds of winning are the same. If you tune into our blog or social media pages, over time you'll see winners from online and traditional retailer purchases!

1/19/2026 03:54 - Sharon S.

Congratulations to both Sophia WINNERS! I just Love how the NCEL just slipped the #5 as fireball in 2days pic 3 #535 to get the straight for less pay our. SAY what you want, but those pic 3s and 4s are manipulated!

1/19/2026 10:13 - Marilyn D.

I have a question NOT related to this win. In the Merry Millions 2nd chance drawing you must have played all 6 games to be considered. I have and it keeps showing that I have not played the $10 BlowOut. I have played this game more than once. Tell me is this just a gimmick to play more???NC Lottery
Hi, Marilyn! Players who entered all 6 of the 2025 Holiday games would earn 100 "Super Bonus" entries into the drawing. However, you do not have to play all of the games to earn entries for each ticket - every eligible ticket entered provides entries into this second chance drawing, and every entry has the same odds of being randomly selected as a lucky winner. https://nclottery.com/rewards/second-chance?id=440.

1/19/2026 10:12 - mike r.

Congrats !

1/19/2026 09:28 - Sonya R.

No one makes anyone play. It’s for fun and the proceeds help a lot of people especially schools being built for our children. Thank you North Carolina Education Lottery.NC Lottery
Thanks for the nice comment, Sonya!

1/18/2026 08:57 - Linda T.

@Brent W. where do we find the cash 5 winner you speak of?

1/18/2026 05:57 - Esther C.

And just like that, Sophia, NC is on the map with the Friday Cash 5 win and this one. Funny how the small towns (Rural Hall) have won the last two decent Cash 5 jackpots after someone posted cities they seem to think win often. Before I get attacked, I'm being cheeky. Congratulations to all winners. Still holding out for my pay day. (o:

1/18/2026 02:10 - Javier M.

God bless congratulations.

1/18/2026 09:31 - michael b.

Congratulations hopefully soon I’ll be able to land myself a magical ticket worth a millionNC Lottery
We are wishing you lots of luck, Michael!

1/18/2026 06:51 - Julia M.

Wow!I am excited but not sure what I won.

1/18/2026 06:48 - Brian T.

Predetermined multipliers, predetermined winners, blah blah blah. NCEL, your games are a joke at this point. Investigative teams will be bringing the government and your indiscretions to light. It's a national tragedy at this point where regulators are on the take like you and all your colleagues. Shame to you and what you do for the "sake of society".

1/18/2026 01:45 - Shanika B.

Wow,thats great I'm waiting patiently for my my big winningsNC Lottery
We have our fingers crossed for you, Shanika!

1/18/2026 01:27 - shirley b.

NCEL trips 444 999 333 111 way overdue

1/17/2026 10:25 - Vanessa A.

Congrats!!

1/17/2026 07:52 - Brent W.

Wow Congratulations I wonder if the same person hit the Cash 5 as well, because that ticket was sold in Sophia also.

1/17/2026 05:49 - shirley b.

NCEL trips please Where are they at? This is why ya'll losing so many customers. Ya'll know ya'll not playing fair lol

1/17/2026 05:16 - Tena S.

Congratulations! But did this person in Sophia, NC also purchase the winning Cash 5 ticket too?NC Lottery
Hi Tena, yesterday's Cash 5 winner hasn't come in to claim their prize yet. We will share more information when they do!

1/17/2026 02:20 - JACQUELINE D.

Congratulations!

1/17/2026 01:21 - Paulita P.

Congrats!!

Lucky ticket in North Carolina wins $2 million playing Mega Millions

January 17, 2026 Posted by NC Lottery at 10:35 AM

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