Mega Millions $1.6 billion lottery winner comes forward in Florida - but remains a mystery
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The winner of the $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot in August — the second-largest in U.S. history — has come forward to claim the prize, officials said Wednesday.
In all, Mega Millions has had five prizes of more than a billion dollars (See lists below).
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, 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.
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The largest jackpot ever was a Powerball ticket in California worth a whopping $2.04 billion from the drawing on Nov. 8, 2022. The third 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.
Three other Mega Millions prizes were the fourth, fifth and sixth largest jackpots.
A single person in South Carolina won $1.537 billion on Oct. 23, 2018, while $1.35 billion was won in Maine on Jan. 13, 2023, and $1.337 billion was won in Illinois on July 29, 2022.
The Maine winner 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.
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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.
What are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots?
Here are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots ever:
$1.602 billion, Aug. 8, 2023: Florida
$1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
$1.348 billion, Jan. 13, 2023: Won in Maine
$1.337 billion: July 29, 2022: Illinois
$1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
$656 million, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
$648 million, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia
$543 million, July 24, 2018: Won in California
$536 million, July 8, 20116: Won in Indiana
$533 million: March 30, 2018: Won in New Jersey
What was largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever?
Here's a look at the top jackpots won in the United States, between the Powerball and the Mega Millions lotteries:
$2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022: California
$1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023: Florida
$1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
$1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
$1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2022: Won in Maine
$1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: Illinois
$1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023: Won in California
$1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
$835 million, Powerball, Sept. 27, 2023:
$768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
$758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
$754.6 million, Powerball: Feb. 6, 2023: Won in Washington
$730 million,, Powerball, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
$699.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
$687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York
$656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
$648 million, Mega Millions, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia
$632.6 million, Powerball, Jan. 5, 2022: Two winner in California, Wisconsin
$590.5 million, Powerball, May 18, 2013: Won in Florida
$587.5 million, Powerball, Nov. 28, 2012: Two winners in Arizona, Missouri
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Mega Millions $1.6 billion August winner comes forward in Florida
