The $1.6 billion Mega Millions roll is over: A winning ticket was sold in Neptune Beach, the Florida Lottery announced shortly after Tuesday night's drawing.
Now the new drama is just who did win the game's highest jackpot and the country's second-highest lottery payout (the Mega Millions website updated the total from the initial $1.58 billion estimate). Exactly who defied the 1 in 302.6 million odds? For those who purchased quick-pick tickets at the 630 Atlantic Blvd. Publix, check your stubs!
Is it a single billionaire, a work group or a conglomerate of family and friends? Who matched the winning numbers 13-19-20-32-33 and Mega Ball 14? How many $2 tickets did it take to pull it off? How many years of trying, praying, to get lucky?
State law allows for a 90-day grace periodto release the names of winners once jackpot prizes are claimed.
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The jackpot had rolled 31 consecutive times since April 21, according to the Lottery.
Jackpot prize winners have the option to receive their winnings in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $783.3 million, according to the Lottery. To receive the cash option, jackpot prizes must be claimed within 60 days of the winning jackpot draw. Winners have 180 days from the applicable drawing to claim their prize.
This series of Mega Millions jackpot rollovers has generated about $73.5 million for education in Florida, the Lottery said.
The jackpots start at $20 million and roll until the jackpot is won. Players win by matching the five white ball numbers (1-70) and the Mega Ball number (1-25).
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Mega Millions winning numbers for August 8
Thewinning numbersfrom Tuesday's drawing were 32, 19, 13, 33, and 20. The Mega Ball was 14 and the Megaplier was 2X.
Previous largest U.S. jackpots
Here is a look at the three previous largest U.S. jackpots that have been won and the states where the winning tickets were sold, according to The Associated Press:
- 1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022 (one ticket, from California)
- 2. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (three tickets, from California, Florida, Tennessee)
- 3. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (one ticket, from South Carolina)
The largest Florida lottery winner before last night shared a $1.59 billion Powerball jackpot in 2016.
The prize money is subject to federal taxes. Many states also tax lottery winnings.
Mega Millionsis played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Any second-tier big winners in this Mega Millions drawing?
Tuesday's drawing also produced a $2 million Florida winner whose ticket matched all five white balls but not the Mega Ball. That $ 2 million winning ticket was purchased at Kwik Stop at 830 Columbus Parkway in Hollywood, according to the Lottery.
What are people saying about the Mega Millions jackpot?
"It's all anyone's talking about," an employee told the Times-Union.
Others outside the store late Wednesday morning thought about having that kind of luck — and cash.
"It's crazy, but it had to be somewhere," Laurie Stucki said. "I thought about buying one, but I didn't."
"I wouldn't know what to do with that kind of money," she said. "I'd give a lot of it away."
She taught for 35 years at Atlantic Beach Elementary School before retiring seven years ago, so she knows the plight of teachers. She said she'd give some of it to them.
John Liggio lives a few blocks away. What would he do with the money? "Buy a house, probably," he said.
In many parts of the Beaches, even a modest, nothing-fancy house can easily go for $1 million or more. "They're going up like crazy," Liggio said. "I rent."
Even non-Lottery players couldn't help but ponder about it.
"To think it could have been me, if I played," Thomas Bakula said.
He doesn't play though and isn't really tempted, even now. "Nah. I feel like I win every time I don't play," he said.
Where is Neptune Beach, Florida?
Neptune Beach is a Northeast Florida beachfront city east of Jacksonville in Duval County.
When the majority of Duval County consolidated with Jacksonville in 1968, Neptune Beach, along with Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach and Baldwin remained their own municipalities.
Where is the Publix in Neptune Beach?
This Publix at 630 Atlantic Blvd. is actually a block away from another new Publix that opened a couple of months ago replacing Lucky's Market. The new Publix features POURS, a space where customers can sip wine, drink a cold draft beer, indulge in a smoothie or savor a good cup of coffee while shopping.
It's a little strange to have two side by side, but Publix previously told Times-Union news partner First Coast News that many factors go into determining where to open a new location and the new store will "alleviate congestion in stores, in addition to allowing for the best traffic patterns in a particular area."
There is a similar situation with two Publix locations in St. Augustine. The stores on Tuscan Way and Village Commons Drive are right across the street from each other about 1,600 feet apart.
How much does the retailer get for selling the winning Mega Millions ticket?
Publix will receive $100,000 for selling the winning ticket. It starts at $20,000 and increases by $5,000 with each rollover up to $100,000, according to the Florida Lottery’s retailer bonus commissions.
What are the Top 10 largest Mega Millions jackpots ever?
According to its website, here are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots as of Aug. 8, 2023:
- 10.$533 million — March 30, 2018; New Jersey
- 9.$536 million — July 8, 2016; Indiana
- 8.$543 million — July 24, 2018; California
- 7.$648 million — Dec. 17, 2013; California and Georgia
- 6.$656 million — March 30, 2012; Illinois, Kansas and Maryland
- 5.$1.05 billion — Jan. 22, 2021; Michigan
- 4.$1.337 billion — July 29, 2022; Illinois
- 3.$1.35 billion — Jan. 13, 2023; Maine
- 2. $1.537 billion — Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina
- 1. $1.602 billion — Aug. 8, 2023; Florida
Times-Union writer Matt Soergel contributed to this report.
