adminNEW YORK. – A lucky US lottery player has won a Mega Millions jackpot worth more than US$1.3 billion, one of the highest prizes ever, a US lottery official confirmed Saturday.
The official Mega Millions site said a single ticket holder in the midwestern state of Illinois – who has yet to be identified – had the six magic numbers and won a jackpot estimated at US$1.337 billion.
The grand prize had been steadily growing, fueling the dreams of would-be winners across the country, for more than three months. The prize had gone unclaimed in 29 previous drawings.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are one in 303 million – much higher than the one in a million chance of being struck by lightning, according to US government data.
Friday’s total falls short of the world record of $1.586 billion, set in January 2016 by the US’ other national lotto, the Powerball, though that sum was split among three winners.
The second-highest prize ever – and the highest won by a single person – was in an October 2018 Mega Millions drawing for $1.5 billion.
The $1.337 billion figure for Friday’s drawing represents the total amount a winner would be entitled to if they accepted the prize split up over a 30-year annuity.
If the lucky person decided instead to take the winnings as a one-time cash payment, the total amount would decrease to $780.5 million, Mega Millions estimates.
Taxes would then gobble up a significant chunk, while still leaving an unimaginably large pot for the winner.
Winners are generally advised to immediately seek assistance from financial advisors, even before claiming the prize money.
What Previous Winners Did With Their Money
John Kutey built a water park.
After cashing in a $319 million Mega Millions jackpot for a share of $28.7 million in 2011, Kutey and his wife Linda decided to donate a portion of the winnings to building a water park in honor of their parents.
They donated $200,000 to construct Spray Park in Green Island, New York.
Louise White created a trust and named it after her lucky dessert.
In 2012, 81-year-old Louise White of Newport, Rhode Island, bought rainbow sherbet at Stop N Shop just before purchasing a lottery ticket that would end up being worth $336.4 million.
In honour of the lucky dessert, she created “The Rainbow Sherbert Trust,” a trust that would benefit her family.
Bob Erb advocated marijuana legalization.
Canadian pot activist Bob Erb became $25 million richer in 2012 after buying a lottery ticket on the way to his father’s funeral in Calgary, The Huffington Post reported.
He’d been buying tickets for 43 years.
The seasonal construction worker planned to continue working and donate his wages to the food bank.
He also directed $1 million of his winnings toward 420 Day, an annual event supporting marijuana legalisation.
Nigel Willetts traveled the world.
With 13,000,000-to-one odds, pub landlord Nigel Willetts won £1 million in 2014 after accidentally grabbing a £20 bill while buying lottery tickets, he told the Mirror.
He used the accidental winnings to travel the world, starting by treating 13 family members to a vacation in Florida over the holidays. – AFP/Business Insider.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter