Finally, the largest single jackpot ticket in US history has been claimed! On Monday, the South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) said a winner came forward to claim the $1.5 billion winning Mega Millions ticket. They have chosen to remain anonymous.
The revelation comes after months of speculation as to who the winner was–and why they weren’t rushing to claim the prize.
After all, it was way back on October 23 when it was announced a winning ticket had been sold. Officials told ABC Columbia, the winner was simply “busy.”
Of course, this may or may not be the real reason–it’s not uncommon for winners of large jackpots to hide out while first prepping any legal needs with an attorney.
This Mega Millions is historically the largest single jackpot
Sold in Simpsonville, SC, this winning Quick Pick ticket eclipsed the previous largest payout by $14 million. According to officials, the winner has selected the cash option one-time payment of $877,784,124.
“We are delighted that the winner is a South Carolinian and has come forward to claim this remarkable prize,” Executive Director Hogan Brown said.
In October, the estimated jackpot gained $333 million in just three days with American lottery players contributing an extra $1 billion into the prize in one week.
The Mega Millions winner was cutting it close
As months passed, the window to claim the jackpot was getting smaller and was set to expire on April 19. Now that the winner has come forward, Mega Millions starts all over again.
The KC Mart that sold the winning ticket will receive $50,000. An additional $61 million will be paid to the state of South Carolina in income taxes from the winner.
Whether it’s Mega Millions, Powerball, or any other type, the lottery always has an allure. After all, a few bucks out of pocket to potentially win seven or eight figures? Why not try your luck? Check out these additional tips on what to do after you hit the lottery jackpot.
