If you’re feeling lucky − or brave − there’s a major lottery drawing on Friday the 13th.
Though the number 13 typically is considered unlucky, that date and/or number has made someone a lottery winner before (see below). If a $5 Mega Millions ticket makes you a multimillionaire on Friday, June 13, you’ll likely agree with that familiar lottery phrase, “it could happen to you.”
After no one matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the Tuesday, June 10, Mega Millions drawing, the jackpot jumped $21 million overnight. The next chance to win happens to fall on what some may consider an unlucky date − Friday the 13th − for a cool $264 million prize. The cash option for the Friday, June 13, Mega Millions drawing would be $117.3 million, according to Mega Millions online.
Interestingly, Friday the 13th kicks off a busy holiday weekend − Flag Day is Saturday, June 14, and Father’s Day is Sunday, June 15.
Below are times in history that the number 13 or Friday the 13th made someone a big lottery winner.
One time, the number 13 appeared twice in a Powerball drawing on Halloween night
According to a check on Powerball’s site and a robust internet search, the Oct. 31, 2022, drawing was likely the first time the number 13 appeared twice in a Powerball drawing — on Halloween — for a $1 billion jackpot. Largely considered an unlucky number, spooky even, the fact that 13 was pulled twice in a big lottery drawing on Oct. 31 is a fun fact itself.
However, no one was lucky enough to win that grand prize. Until …
Do dates, birthdays, anniversaries help for picking Powerball, Mega Millions numbers?
Strangely, a few days after the Oct. 31, 2022, “number 13” Powerball drawing, something odd occurred − again.
On Nov. 2, 2022, the Powerball drawing had an interesting numerical occurrence: The date of the drawing was 11/2/22, the jackpot was for $1.2 billion, and three of the winning numbers contained the date (11, 2 and 22).
Coincidence? You be the judge.
▶ If you have a fear of the number 13 AND Halloween, check out this wacky Powerball story.
▶ One, two, too … That one time the Powerball winning numbers had a lot of ones and twos.
Has anyone won a big lottery jackpot on Friday the 13th?
Yes! A single ticket was purchased in Maine for the Jan. 13, 2023, Mega Millions drawing. The winner remains anonymous through a trust and accepted their winnings of $1.35 billion through the limited liability company LaKoma Island Investments LLC, according to a Feb. 22, 2023, story in USA TODAY.
Jan. 13, 2023, was Friday the 13th. The number 13 typically is referred to as an unlucky number, and it’s associated with horror films.
Fun fact: Three tickets purchased in California, Florida and Tennessee won the Jan. 13, 2016, Powerball drawing, splitting $1.586 billion. In 2016, FLORIDA TODAY reported Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt bought their winning Powerball ticket at a Publix in Melbourne Beach.
While Jan. 13, 2023, was a Friday the 13th, Jan. 13, 2016, was not (it was a Wednesday). The odds of a billion-dollar jackpot being won on the same date going forward? Likely pretty low.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Friday the 13th: Superstitious date was lucky for Mega Millions winner