The record-breaking $1.6 billion Mega Millions lottery jackpot has officially been won! There was just one winning ticket, which was bought by someone from South Carolina. The laws in South Carolina allow winners to remain anonymous, so it’s unlikely we will find out who won. The final official total of the jackpot came to $1.537 billion.
Mega Millions Jackpot Falls Short of Predictions
Initially, it looked as though this would be the largest lottery jackpot in history. However, it landed up falling just shy of this record, which is still held by the Powerball jackpot of January 2016, which was $1.586 billion. This is due to jackpots being calculated by estimates. These estimates are worked out based on historical trends. Typically, lotteries see around 70% of sales occurring on the day of the draw, which means an exact jackpot is difficult to predict. Ultimately, the Mega Millions jackpot fell just short of the estimates, but we’re sure the winner won’t be complaining.
The jackpot for the lottery hasn’t been won since 24 July and will now reset to just $40 million. The lucky gambler from South Carolina now has 180 days to claim their money and has some very big decisions to make. The first decision will be whether to take the lump-sum payout, which totals $878 million, or the annual payments that take 30 years to pay out fully. Most winners tend to take the lump sum. They will also need to decide if they remain anonymous or not. South Carolina is one of eight states that participate in Mega Millions that allow the winner to remain unknown to the public.
Powerball Jackpot Still Up for Grabs
If you weren’t lucky this time, there’s still the Powerball draw, which could see you winning $620 million. And the odds of winning are slightly better as well. You should also make sure you check your ticket, because there were 36 tickets sold that matched five of the numbers, entitling the player to a $1 million prize. In total, there were 15 750 013 tickets sold that will win something, so don’t throw your ticket away too quickly.
Congratulations to the winner from South Carolina, we can’t say we’re not extremely jealous.
2024 Latest news: $1.58 billion Mega Millions winner in Florida revealed
The winner of the $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot in Florida, purchased from a Publix in Neptune Beach, has been revealed as Saltines Holdings LLC from Miami. The winning ticket matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the August 8, 2023, drawing, making it the largest Mega Millions jackpot in history and the fourth-largest lottery prize in U.S. history. The winner claimed the prize on September 25, with details regarding whether it was a lump sum or annual payments not initially disclosed. The Florida Lottery requires winners to claim prizes within 180 days, and there are ways to remain anonymous, such as forming a trust or corporation.
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Dave Cooper is the Senior Content Manager at CasinoUS.com, leading the creation of informative and engaging content for casino players. Fueled by a fascination for the intricate world of online gaming and a talent for storytelling, Dave holds a journalism degree from UNLV, a perfect launchpad for his illustrious career.