$1.58 billion lottery ticket sold in Florida
A historic moment occurred on Tuesday night as a single winning ticket was sold for the record estimated $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot, according to lottery officials. The lucky ticket was purchased at a Publix supermarket in Neptune Beach, Florida, a coastal town near Jacksonville.
The winning numbers for the Mega Millions jackpot were 13, 19, 20, 32, 33, and the Mega Ball was 14. The identity of the ticket holder or holders has not yet been publicly revealed.
The winner now faces a difficult decision – they can either choose to receive an estimated lump sum payment of $783.3 million before taxes or opt for the annuity option. The annuity option includes an immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase in value and eventually equal the full jackpot amount, minus taxes.
This Mega Millions jackpot had been steadily growing since it was last won in New York in mid-April. Over the course of 31 drawings, no one had matched all six numbers until this 32nd drawing.
Not only is this the largest windfall in Mega Millions history, but it also ranks as the third biggest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. In February, a winning ticket sold at a gas station near Los Angeles claimed a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot, which remains the largest in lottery history. In January 2016, winning tickets were bought in California, Florida, and Tennessee for a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot.
It is unclear whether Tuesday night’s Mega Millions jackpot surpasses the grand prize of the previous Powerball record. However, it is worth noting that this is the second billion-dollar jackpot up for grabs this summer, following a $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot won by a player in Los Angeles last month.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are approximately 1 in 302.58 million. Mega Millions tickets, priced at $2 each, are sold in all states except Alabama, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, and Nevada. They are also available in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. EDT.
This article was written by Alex Sundby, a senior editor for CBSNews.com. Additional reporting was provided by Brian Dakss.
Thank you for reading CBS NEWS.
How long does the winner have to claim their prize
E 4, 8, 19, 27, 34, and the Mega Ball number was 10. The odds of winning the jackpot were a staggering 1 in 302.5 million.
The winner has not yet come forward to claim the prize, but they have 180 days to do so. This massive jackpot is the largest in Mega Millions history, surpassing the previous record of $1.537 billion set in 2018.
The Publix store where the ticket was sold will also receive a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. This news has brought great excitement to the residents of Neptune Beach and the surrounding areas, as everyone eagerly awaits to find out who the lucky winner is.
Lottery officials are reminding the winner to sign the back of their ticket and keep it in a safe place until they are ready to claim their prize. They also advise the winner to seek financial and legal advice before coming forward, as winning such a large sum of money can come with unexpected challenges.
The $1.58 billion jackpot was the result of 36 consecutive drawings without a grand prize winner. The enthusiasm surrounding this record-breaking jackpot led to a surge in ticket sales throughout the country, as people dreamed of becoming an instant billionaire.
Mega Millions is played in 44 states as well as Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each ticket costs $2, and the winning numbers are drawn every Tuesday and Friday night.
While the odds of winning such a large jackpot are slim, the possibility of becoming a multimillionaire overnight keeps people coming back for more. The excitement and anticipation leading up to the drawing create a sense of community as friends, coworkers, and family members gather to discuss their dreams of what they would do with the money.
Only time will tell who the lucky winner is and how their life will forever change with their newfound fortune. In the meantime, the rest of us will continue to daydream about what it would be like to win the lottery and live a life of extraordinary luxury and financial security.
Wow, talk about a lucky supermarket! Congratulations to the winner, may their life be forever changed for the better.