Winner of Fifth-Largest Jackpot in Mega Millions History Comes Forward to Claim $1.1 Billion Prize 9 Months Later
The winner, who has chosen to remain anonymous, will receive $537.5 million before state and federal taxes, according to lottery officials
ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty
A Mega Millions lottery ticket in New York City on August 08, 2023.The winner of the fifth-largest prize in Mega Millions history has come forward to claim their prize.
It has been nine months since the $1.128 billion prize was won on a ticket purchased at a ShopRite in Neptune Township, according to a news release from the New Jersey Lottery.
The ticket, bought on March 26, matched the winning numbers of 07, 11, 22, 29 and 38 as well as the Gold Mega Ball number 04 and the multiplier number of 02, lottery officials said.
The winner, who has chosen to remain anonymous, will receive a cash value of $537.5 million before state and federal taxes, they added.
Meanwhile, the ShopRite that sold the winning ticket received a $30,000 bonus commission for the sale.
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Richard Saker, the CEO and president of Saker ShopRites, said the company would donate the funds to the charitable program ShopRite Partners in Caring.
“I am very proud to accept this commission check,” Saker said in March. “This check will go directly to Fulfill, which is the local food bank that is right up the street from Monmouth and Ocean County. I’m sure the food bank is really going to appreciate this donation.”
Lottery winners in New Jersey have exactly “one year from the date of the drawing to file a claim” for their prize money, N.J. Lottery said in its release.
“It is common for large jackpot winners to take their time to file a claim,” said lottery officials.
New Jersey lottery winners also have the option to remain anonymous under a 2020 law.
The largest Mega Millions jackpot ever won was $1.602 billion by a Florida player in August of 2023, according to lottery officials.
“Other top jackpots were won in South Carolina ($1.537 billion in 2018), Maine ($1.348 billion in January, 2023) and Illinois ($1.337 billion in 2022). Earlier this fall, a Texas player won an $810 jackpot,” they added.
The current Mega Millions jackpot stands at $970 million, and would be the seventh largest if won on Tuesday, Dec. 24.
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