The jackpot for the MEGA Millions draw on Fri Sep 18, 2026, is projected to be $244 Million, with an option for a cash payout of $103.5 Million. Should you be the lucky winner of the MEGA Millions jackpot, anticipate the IRS to initially withhold 24% of your winnings for taxes, and be prepared that you might need to pay up to an additional 13% in federal taxes at tax time. For Kentucky residents, the state will deduct 4.5% from your lottery earnings.
| Kentucky MEGA Millions Jackpot/Cash Option for Fri Sep 18, 2026 |
|---|
| Draw Date | Fri Sep 18, 2026 | | Projected Jackpot | $244,000,000 | | Cash Value | $103,500,000 |
| Lumpsum Option Taxes and Payment |
|---|
| Cash Gross Payment | $103,500,000 | | Federal Tax(24%) | $24,840,000 | | Additional Federal Tax | $13,415,330 | | State Tax(4.5%) | $4,657,500 | | Net Lumpsum Payment | $60,587,170 |
| Annuity Payment in 30 Installations |
|---|
| Yr |
Gross Payment |
Fed/State Taxes |
Net Payment |
| 1 |
$3,672,444 |
$1,319,135
$165,260 |
$2,188,049 |
| 2 |
$3,856,176 |
$1,387,116
$173,528 |
$2,295,532 |
| 3 |
$4,048,936 |
$1,458,437
$182,202 |
$2,408,297 |
| 4 |
$4,251,456 |
$1,533,369
$191,316 |
$2,526,771 |
| 5 |
$4,463,980 |
$1,612,003
$200,879 |
$2,651,098 |
| 6 |
$4,687,240 |
$1,694,609
$210,926 |
$2,781,705 |
| 7 |
$4,921,480 |
$1,781,278
$221,467 |
$2,918,735 |
| 8 |
$5,167,676 |
$1,872,371
$232,545 |
$3,062,760 |
| 9 |
$5,426,072 |
$1,967,977
$244,173 |
$3,213,922 |
| 10 |
$5,697,400 |
$2,068,368
$256,383 |
$3,372,649 |
| 11 |
$5,982,148 |
$2,173,725
$269,197 |
$3,539,226 |
| 12 |
$6,281,292 |
$2,284,408
$282,658 |
$3,714,226 |
| 13 |
$6,595,320 |
$2,400,599
$296,789 |
$3,897,932 |
| 14 |
$6,925,208 |
$2,522,657
$311,634 |
$4,090,917 |
| 15 |
$7,271,444 |
$2,650,765
$327,215 |
$4,293,464 |
| 16 |
$7,635,004 |
$2,785,282
$343,575 |
$4,506,147 |
| 17 |
$8,016,620 |
$2,926,480
$360,748 |
$4,729,392 |
| 18 |
$8,417,512 |
$3,074,810
$378,788 |
$4,963,914 |
| 19 |
$8,838,412 |
$3,230,543
$397,729 |
$5,210,140 |
| 20 |
$9,280,296 |
$3,394,040
$417,613 |
$5,468,643 |
| 21 |
$9,744,384 |
$3,565,752
$438,497 |
$5,740,135 |
| 22 |
$10,231,652 |
$3,746,042
$460,424 |
$6,025,186 |
| 23 |
$10,743,076 |
$3,935,269
$483,438 |
$6,324,369 |
| 24 |
$11,280,364 |
$4,134,065
$507,616 |
$6,638,683 |
| 25 |
$11,844,248 |
$4,342,702
$532,991 |
$6,968,555 |
| 26 |
$12,436,680 |
$4,561,902
$559,651 |
$7,315,127 |
| 27 |
$13,058,392 |
$4,791,935
$587,628 |
$7,678,829 |
| 28 |
$13,711,336 |
$5,033,525
$617,010 |
$8,060,801 |
| 29 |
$14,396,976 |
$5,287,212
$647,864 |
$8,461,900 |
| 30 |
$15,116,776 |
$5,553,538
$680,255 |
$8,882,983 |
|
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