Mega Millions announces winner of whopping $1.58bn jackpot prize – latest
Winner of last night’s drawing purchased ticket at a Publix supermarket in Neptune Beach, Florida
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Mega Millions has announced the winner of its massive jackpot prize for Tuesday, shortly after unveiling the winning numbers.
The numbers announced were 13, 19, 20, 32 and 33, with the Megaplier of 14.
The prize is a whopping $1.58bn – a record high for the lottery that counts among the largest-ever draws in American lottery history.
Mega Millions has since announced that a player from Neptune Beach, Florida won its top prize with a ticket purchased at a Publix supermarket. The winner’s name has not been disclosed.
The player has two options for collecting their massive windfall: spread out the full amount in annual payments over 29 years, or receive a lump sum payment in the amount of about $783m.
The jackpot had climbed to $1.58bn after no tickets matched all six winning numbers in Friday’s draw.
The chances of a player matching all six numbers are exceptionally rare. The odds, in fact, are just one in 302.6 million.
The winner can now claim their prize as part of annual payments or as a lump sum cash payment.
Where can you buy Mega Millions tickets?
Mega Millions tickets can be purchased from lottery retailers/agents in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands, the lottery states on its website. For specific retailers, players are encouraged to use the Where to Play section on the lottery’s website and search by state.
Additionally, there are some states where players can purchase tickets online. “If you are in Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or the District of Columbia, you may buy Mega Millions tickets online by registering with the lotteries in those jurisdictions,” according to Mega Millions‘ FAQ section.
Do you need to be a US citizen to win the lottery?
According to Mega Millions’ website, you do not need to be an American citizen to purchase a lottery ticket, or win a prize.
“Visitors to the United States are always welcome to purchase tickets for our game from an American lottery retailer while they are visiting this country; you do not need to be a resident to win,” the lottery confirms.
Can winner of Mega Millions jackpot remain anonymous?
The Mega Millions lottery is played in 45 states, Washington, DC, and the US Virgin Islands.
However, because lottery rules vary state by state, it means there are only some states that allow lottery winners to remain anonymous - while others require individuals to disclose their identity.
Maintaining anonymity is only permitted in 16 US states, including Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, New Jersey, Texas, and Wyoming.
Additionally, these states may have their own limitations or restrictions, such as prize thresholds or a limited time period where a person can remain anonymous. For example, the names of those who win $600 or more in the Arizona lottery are confidential for 90 days after the prize has been awarded, and they can choose to remain anonymous if they win $100,000 or more.
Do all Mega Millions players win a prize?
If a player has a ticket that matches just the gold Mega Ball, they win $2, which is the cost of each Mega Millions ticket.
Mega Millions jackpot grows to third largest in US with $1.58bn grand prize
Lottery players will have another shot at a massive Mega Millions jackpot
How do you play the Mega Millions and can you win prizes other than jackpot?
To play the Mega Millions lottery, players can pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers - five different numbers from one to 70 (the white balls) and one number from one to 25 (the gold Mega Ball), according to Mega Millions’ website.
To win the grand prize, players must have a ticket that matches all six numbers drawn.
However, players who don’t win the jackpot can still win smaller prizes, as Mega Millions notes that there are “a total of nine ways to win a prize in Mega Millions, ranging from the jackpot down to $2”.
Players who match all five white balls but not the gold Mega Ball walk away with the second biggest prize of $1m, while players who match four white balls and the gold Mega Ball win $10,000.
If the grand prize continues to grow, which it is expected to, it will surpass the previous second-largest lottery jackpot.
The title is currently held by the $1.586bn Powerball jackpot, which was won on 13 January 2016 by tickets in California, Florida and Tennessee.
The largest lottery grand prize ever recorded was won the $2.04bn Powerball jackpot won by a single ticket in California on 7 November 2022.
What are the 10 largest US lottery jackpots ever won?
Here is a look at the 10 largest U.S. jackpots that have been won and the states where the winning tickets were sold
Whether it’s $1bn or $1.58bn, winning a lottery jackpot typically means a life-changing amount of money. However, a previous lottery winner has revealed that there are some things that do not change when you win millions of dollars.
Former lottery winner reveals what doesn’t change after you win millions
The $1.5bn Mega Millions jackpot has yet to find a winner
What to do if you win the lottery, according to experts
Although the chances of winning the grand prize are slim, there are a few things that lottery players need to know if they do find themselves with a winning ticket.
From keeping the win a secret to whether you should sign a winning ticket, this is what lottery players should consider before making any decisions at all.
What to do if you win the lottery, according to experts
The $1.5bn Mega Millions jackpot is third largest in US
Ahead of Tuesday night’s drawing, hopeful players have started fantasising about the purchases they would make if they were to win the grand prize.
“Alright y’all I bought my Mega Millions tickets so now I get to live in a delusional fantasy of what I’d do with the money until they draw the numbers,” one person tweeted.
On Tuesday, the Mega Millions lottery revealed on its website that the estimated grand prize of $1.55bn had jumped to $1.58bn ahead of Tuesday night’s drawing.
If a winner were to choose the lump-sum cash payment, they would walk away with $783.3m before taxes.
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