Mega Millions- In New York, another ticket won $2 million, which is still a great prize, even if it’s not first place.
$1.13 Billion Mega Millions Prize Won by NJ Ticket
In New Jersey, anything can happen, as the saying goes.
On Tuesday night, someone from New Jersey beat the odds and snagged the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot. This victory marks the first big win of 2024 for the game and ends a dry spell that lasted since December.
The fortunate winner matched all six numbers drawn: 7, 11, 22, 29, and 38 for the white balls, along with the gold Mega Ball 4. This secured them the estimated prize of $1.13 billion ($537.5 million cash).
The winner chose the numbers themselves, not through Quick Pick, and it was a single set of numbers on the ticket, officials clarified.
Now it’s New Jersey’s all-time biggest jackpot win.
The winning ticket was bought at ShopRite Liquor on Route 66 in Neptune, Monmouth County.
NJ lottery officials will hold a press conference on Wednesday to award the retailer with a $30,000 bonus check for selling the winning jackpot ticket. However, the winner has not yet stepped forward.
James Carey, Executive Director of the New Jersey Lottery, stated, “We’re aware of where and when the winning ticket was sold, but the identity of the winner remains unknown. If you’re the lucky winner, sign the back of the ticket, take a photo, make a copy, and store it in a secure location.”
“Share this news only with your nearest and dearest, then seek advice from a financial expert,” Carey advised. For many, the leap from being an average person to becoming a millionaire or even a hundred-millionaire overnight is unfamiliar ground.
Last year, a Mega Millions ticket worth $1.6 billion was sold in Neptune Beach, Florida. Interestingly, there are at least seven places named Neptune in the United States, in case anyone’s thinking of relocating!
In New Jersey, lottery rules permit the winner to remain anonymous. Therefore, it’s uncertain whether we’ll ever know the identity of the person who won.
Also Read: Baltimore Bridge, Prevents Disaster
Prior to the latest drawing, no one had successfully matched all six numbers to claim the Mega Millions jackpot since December 8th. That’s 30 consecutive drawings without a big winner. The chances of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 302.6 million.
The prize ranks as the eighth-largest in U.S. In lottery history, it ranks as the fifth-largest prize in Mega Millions’ records. The final jackpot amount will be officially determined after sales from all 47 participating jurisdictions are tallied on Wednesday morning.
“Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin, who also leads the Mega Millions Consortium, congratulated the New Jersey Lottery for selling the winning ticket in Tuesday’s $1.13 billion Mega Millions drawing. She shared happiness for the latest jackpot winner and recognized the prizes won and funds raised for charity during this exciting jackpot event.
The $1.12 billion jackpot winner has the option to receive payments through an annuity, starting with an initial sum followed by 29 annual payments. However, most winners opt for a cash payout, amounting to $537.5 million.
In total, there were 3,693,854 winning tickets, which includes the single jackpot winner. Thirteen tickets matched the five main numbers to win the game’s second-place prize. One of these, sold in New York, is valued at $2 million because the buyer opted for the Megaplier (available in most states for an additional $1), which was set at 2X that Tuesday night. The other 12 second-tier prizes are each worth the standard $1 million and were won in California, Colorado, Florida (2), Georgia (2), Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York (2), and Ohio.
The upcoming major U.S. lottery draw is set for Wednesday night, offering an estimated $865 million Powerball jackpot. The jackpot has remained unclaimed since New Year’s Day, spanning 36 consecutive drawings without a winner.
Mega Millions is offered in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball is played in the same states plus Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
Follow my Twitter Account:Â Weekly Wakeup
