$1.34 billion Mega Millions jackpot finally claimed
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It took a lot longer than many would have anticipated, but the $1.34 billion Mega Millions jackpot has finally been claimed.
The draw happened in late July 2022, when the winning ticket was sold in Chicago, USA. A few months later, the winners have come forward to claim the prize. Yes, winners rather than winner. It was won by two people, who co-purchased the ticket and agreed to share the prize if they won. Indeed, they won - and have chosen to remain anonymous for now.
If you're wondering what their winning selection was, well, 13, 36, 45, 57, 67 - and 14 for the Mega Ball - was their pick.
The lump-sum payment for this $1.34 billion prize was $780.5 million. The winners, like most others who have won prizes of such a big size, opted for this.
"Some people say take the lump sum because you manage it instead of the state. But that's loaded with all sorts of responsibilities that people can’t see coming," said financial advisor Susan Bradley.
Had the winners opted for the annuity option rather than the lump sum, their yearly amount prior to being taxed would have been approximately $44.6 million for each of the next 30 years.
"In this scenario, winners should have a replacement fund. Assume 50 percent of the annual payment is yours after taxes. Then split it in half again and put half in your replacement fund," added Bradley.
The Mega Millions draw is hugely popular around the globe. You don't have to be based in the US to do this. People across the world are able to bet on Mega Millions lottery at Lottoland as frequently as they like.
It has served up some record-breaking sums in the past. This recent $1.34 billion win is among the biggest, but there have been many other huge prizes, too.
In October 2018, $1.537 billion was won via one ticket from South Carolina. In January 2021, another single-ticket winner - this time from Michigan - won $1.05 billion.
There are also a lot of Powerball wins included in the top 10 lottery prize victories in the US, but it’s another Mega Millions win that rounds off the list. It was $656 million in March 2012, when three tickets - one each from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland - won.
Betting on the Mega Millions is relatively simple. Pick five numbers from a pool of 1 to 70 - and include a Mega Ball from 1 to 25. You need to match all five numbers and the Mega Ball correctly to win the jackpot. But there are smaller payouts for guessing fewer numbers correctly, too.
In terms of when the Mega Millions is drawn, it happens on Tuesdays and Fridays in the USA. Time-wise in the United Kingdom, this translates to early in the morning on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Of course, you don’t have to stay up late or wake up early, you can check the results online a few hours later.
