SEPTEMBER 27, 2023:
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The winner of the $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot in August has come forward to claim the prize, officials said Wednesday (Sept. 27, 2023).
Under a new Florida law, the winner’s name remains anonymous for 90 days from the date the prize was claimed, which was on Sept. 25, 2023, lottery officials said in an email. The lottery did not confirm whether the winner took the lump sum or the annuity, and did not specify the estimated lump sum amount.
In Florida, winners have to claim the lump sum within 60 days of the drawing. They have up to 180 days if they choose to go with an annuity, which is paid out in 30 annual installments. The jackpot is also subject to federal taxes. There’s no state income tax in Florida.
The winning ticket was sold at a Publix supermarket in Neptune Beach, a town along the Atlantic Coast near Jacksonville. The winning numbers on Aug. 8 were 13, 19, 20, 32, 33 and the Mega Ball was 14.
In all, Mega Millions has had five billion dollar-plus prizes.
The largest jackpot ever was a Powerball ticket in California worth a whopping $2.04 billion in Nov. 8, 2022, drawing. The next largest was also a Powerball prize of $1.586 billion on Jan. 13, 2016. That prize was split among three winning tickets sold in California, Florida and Tennessee.
The Florida Mega Millions jackpot comes in third. The fourth, fifth and sixth largest jackpots were also Mega Millions prizes, with $1.537 billion going to a single winner in South Carolina on Oct. 23, 2018; $1.35 billion won in Maine on Jan. 13, 2023; and $1.337 billion won in Illinois on July 29, 2022.
The Maine winner of the $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot collected the prize in February, and chose to remain anonymous. The winner collected the cash option through a limited liability company, LaKoma Island Investments LLC, Maine State Lottery officials said.
Historically, most grand prize winners have opted to receive the prize as a one-time, lump sum payment, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association.
Sometimes, winners do opt for the annuity, including the jackpot winner in Virginia from the March 4, 2023 drawing. That winner, whose name remains anonymous under Virginia law, chose an annuity worth $156.7 million to be paid out annually.
Before that, the last time a Powerball winner opted for the annuity was in 2014.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AUGUST 9, 2023, UPDATE:
Here is a look at the 10 largest U.S. jackpots that have been won and the states where the winning tickets were sold:
1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022 (one ticket, from California)
2. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (three tickets, from California, Florida, Tennessee)
3. $1.58 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023 (one ticket, from Florida)
4. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (one ticket, from South Carolina)
5. $1.35 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023 (one ticket, from Maine)
6. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022 (one ticket, from Illinois)
7. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023 (one ticket, from California)
8. $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021 (one ticket, from Michigan)
9. $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019 (one ticket, from Wisconsin)
10. $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017 (one ticket, from Massachusetts)
AUGUST 9, 2023:
UNDATED (AP)- Someone in Florida won a $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot Tuesday night (Aug. 8, 2023), ending a stretch of lottery futility that had stretched for nearly four months.
A Publix grocery store in Neptune Beach sold the winning ticket, according to the Florida Lottery.
The winning numbers drawn were: 13 19 20 32 33 and the yellow ball: 14.
Before the big win Tuesday night, there had been 31 straight drawings since the last time someone won the game’s jackpot on April 18. That enabled the prize to steadily grow to be the third-largest ever in U.S. history.
Mega Millions jackpot winners are so rare thanks to odds of one in 302.6 million.
The $1.58 billion payout would go to the winner if they opt for an annuity, doled out over 30 years. But people usually prefer a lump sum option, which for Tuesday’s jackpot is an estimated $783.3 million.
The prize money is subject to federal taxes. Many states also tax lottery winnings.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AUGUST 8, 2023, UPDATE:
UNDATED (AP)- Lottery players have another shot at a massive Mega Millions jackpot. The estimated $1.58 billion prize up for grabs Tuesday night (Aug. 8, 2023) has risen thanks to 31 straight drawings without a jackpot winner. It now ranks among the largest lottery prizes in U.S. history. Mega Millions jackpot winners are so rare thanks to incredibly long odds of one in 302.6 million. The last time someone won the game’s top prize was April 18. The $1.58 billion payout is for a winner who opts for an annuity, doled out over 30 years. Winners usually prefer a lump sum option, which for Tuesday would be about $783.3 million.
AUGUST 8, 2023:
UNDATED (AP)- Lottery players will have another shot at a massive Mega Millions jackpot. The estimated $1.55 billion prize up for grabs Tuesday night (Aug. 8, 2023) has been building for months thanks to 31 straight drawings without a jackpot winner. It now ranks as the third-largest lottery prize in U.S. history. Mega Millions jackpot winners are so rare thanks to incredibly long odds of 1 in 302.6 million. The last time someone won the game’s top prize was April 18. The $1.55 billion payout is for a winner who opts for an annuity, doled out over 30 years. Winners usually prefer a lump sum option, which for Tuesday would be about $757.2 million.
AUGUST 7, 2023, UPDATE:
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — There is no mystery why the Mega Millions jackpot has grown to $1.55 billion, making it the third-largest ever. The prize is growing so large because no one has matched the game’s six numbers to win the jackpot since April 18, 2023. That’s 31 straight drawings without a big winner. That nearly four-month-long unlucky streak could be all the sweeter for the person who finally wins. The current prize is inching toward the record lottery jackpot of $2.04 billion, which was won in 2022 by a player in California. The next drawing is Tuesday night (Aug. 8, 2023). The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302.6 million.
AUGUST 7, 2023:
NEW YORK (AP) — Your chances of winning the lottery are extremely slim. After no big winner Friday night (Aug. 4, 2023), the Mega Millions jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.55 billion. If someone wins it all on Tuesday, when the next Mega Millions drawing takes place, the prize would one of the largest in U.S. lottery history. But don’t plan on entering a new tax bracket anytime soon. The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot — no matter the size — stand at about 1 in 302.6 million. Here are some things to know about the odds of winning the lottery.
AUGUST 5, 2023:
UNDATED (AP)- Another Mega Millions drawing, another night without a jackpot winner.
AUGUST 4, 2023:
UNDATED (AP)- Lottery players will have a shot Friday night (Aug. 4, 2023) at an estimated $1.25 billion Mega Millions jackpot that has been growing ever larger after months without a grand prize winner.
There have been 30 straight drawings since the last time someone won the game’s jackpot on April 18. That has enabled the prize to steadily grow until it is now the sixth-largest ever in the U.S.
The jackpot is so hard to win because of the 1-in-302.6 million odds of matching the numbers on five white balls and a separate mega ball. The odds are better to win smaller prizes, which start at $2.
The $1.25 billion prize is for a sole winner who is paid over 30 years through an annuity. Those who opt for a lump sum payout would get an estimated $625.3 million.
A big slice of those winnings would go toward federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery payouts.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AUGUST 2, 2023:
UNDATED (AP)- The Mega Millions jackpot increased to an estimated $1.25 billion after no one beat the odds and won the massive lottery prize. The winning numbers drawn Tuesday night (Aug. 1, 2023) were: 8, 24, 30, 45, 61 and the yellow ball: 12. No one has won the Mega Millions jackpot since April 18, allowing it to grow larger and larger. The $1.25 billion prize for Friday’s drawing is one of the largest in U.S. history. The chance of winning the Mega Millions jackpot is 1 in 302.6 million. The new $1.25 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who chooses to collect through an annuity, with annual payments over 30 years. A sole winner who opts for a lump sum payment would receive an estimated $625.3 million.
AUGUST 1, 2023:
UNDATED (AP)- An estimated $1.05 billion Mega Millions jackpot will be up for grabs, giving lottery players a chance to snap an unlucky streak that has stretched on for months. No one has won the Mega Millions jackpot since April 18. That has enabled it to grow for months, and it now is tied for the seventh-largest in U.S. history. Tuesday night’s (Aug. 1, 2023) drawing will be the 30th since someone last won the jackpot. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.6 million. The $1.05 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who chooses to be paid through an annuity over 30 years. A winner who takes the lump sum would receive an estimated $527.9 million.
JULY 29, 2023:
UNDATED (AP)- The Mega Millions jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.05 billion Friday night (July 28, 2023), only the fifth time in the history of the game that the grand prize has reached into the billions.
JULY 28, 2023, UPDATE:
UNDATED (AP)- Lottery players will have another shot at a huge Mega Millions jackpot and a chance to break a stretch of more than three months without a big winner of the game. Friday night’s (July 28, 2023) estimated $940 million prize has been building since someone last won the jackpot April 18. There have been 28 straight drawings without a jackpot winner since then. The jackpot is now the eighth-largest ever in the U.S. The $940 million prize would be for a sole winner choosing to be paid through an annuity over 30 years. Jackpot winners usually opt for a lump sum payment. That would be an estimated $472.5 million for Friday night’s drawing. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are about 1 in 302.6 million.
JULY 28, 2023:
UNDATED (AP)- Lottery players will have another shot at a huge Mega Millions jackpot Friday night (July 28, 2023) and a chance to break a stretch of more than three months without a big winner of the game.
The estimated $910 million prize has been building since someone last matched all six numbers and won the jackpot April 18. Since then, there have been 28 straight drawings without a jackpot winner.
The jackpot is now the eighth-largest ever in the U.S. It comes a little over a week after someone in Los Angeles won a $1.08 billion Powerball prize that ranked as the sixth-largest in U.S. history. It’s still a mystery who won that prize.
Lottery jackpots grow so large because the odds of winning are so small. For Mega Millions, the odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 302.6 million.
The $910 million prize would be for a sole winner choosing to be paid through an annuity with annual payments over 30 years. Jackpot winners almost always opt for a lump sum payment, which for Friday night’s drawing would be an estimated $464.2 million.
Winners also would be subject to federal taxes, while many states also tax lottery winnings.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
JULY 26, 2023:
UNDATED (AP)- The Mega Millions jackpot climbed to an estimated $910 million after Tuesday night’s (July 25, 2023) drawing produced no big winners, extending a stretch of bad luck dating back to April.
The numbers drawn were: 3, 5, 6, 44, 61 and the yellow ball 25
The absence of a winner for the estimated $820 million jackpot brings the count of fruitless drawings to 28, at least for the big prize.
The new $910 million prize is among the largest in U.S. lottery history and follows a $1.08 billion Powerball prize won by a player July 19 in Los Angeles. California lottery officials haven’t announced a winner for that jackpot, which was the sixth-largest in U.S. history.
The largest U.S. jackpot was a $2.04 billion Powerball prize won in November 2022.
Jackpots in the two lottery games grow so large because the steep odds make winning so unlikely, allowing the grand prize to roll over again and again. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.5 million.
The game pays out many more smaller prizes, which start at $2. The overall odds of winning any prize is 1 in 24.
Two tickets for Tuesday’s drawing matched all five white balls to win the game’s second-tier prize. One, sold in Texas, is worth $4 million because it included the optional Megaplier (available in most states with an extra $1 purchase), which was 4X on Tuesday night. The other was sold in Maryland and wins the standard $1 million prize.
The $910 million pot on the line Friday night will be that high only if a sole player wins and they choose to be paid through an annuity of one immediate payment and 29 annual allotments. But jackpot winners nearly always take the cash in a lump sum, which for Friday night’s drawing would be an estimated $464.2 million.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
JULY 23, 2023:
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Mega Millions top prize has jumped to an estimated $820 million after there was no jackpot winner in the latest drawing. The numbers drawn late Friday night (July 21, 2023) were: 29, 40, 47, 50, 57 and gold Mega Ball 25. The estimated $820 million in the next drawing would only be distributed to a winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take a cash payout, which for the next drawing Tuesday night is an estimated $422 million. Mega Millions says the potential jackpot is the fifth largest in the history of the game. Despite the game’s long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, players continue to purchase tickets as the size of the grand prize grows.
JULY 21, 2023:
UNDATED (AP)- Lottery dreamers are setting their sights on the growing Mega Millions jackpot now that a ticket worth more than $1 billion finally has been sold for the Powerball lottery. The new jackpot for Friday’s (July 21, 2023) Mega Millions drawing has reached an estimated $720 million, making it the game’s fifth highest. It hasn’t yet broken into the top 10 highest lottery wins in U.S. history though. If someone picks all five numbers, plus the gold Mega Ball, they have the option of taking the prize in yearly increments paid over 29 years or a $369.6 million lump sum before taxes. The last time a Mega Millions player hit the top prize was April 18.
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