Record-Breaking Jackpot in New Jersey
A single Mega Millions ticket sold in New Jersey has won a staggering $1.13 billion jackpot, marking the state’s largest-ever lottery win. The winning numbers for this historic draw were 7, 11, 22, 29, 38, and the gold Mega Ball 4. The lucky ticket was purchased at ShopRite Liquor on Route 66 in Neptune, Monmouth County. The winner, who chose their own numbers rather than using Quick Pick, opted for an annuity payout over 30 years instead of a lump sum cash option.
Tiyanah Bambaatta, the cashier who sold the winning ticket, expressed her happiness about selling it in her hometown. “It’s amazing to think that someone from our community has won such a life-changing amount,” she said. New Jersey lottery officials held a press conference to present the retailer with a $30,000 bonus check for selling the jackpot-winning ticket. The owner of ShopRite plans to donate the bonus check money to Fulfill NJ food bank.
The identity of the winner remains unknown as they have not yet come forward. New Jersey Lottery Executive Director James Carey advised the winner to sign and secure their ticket and consult a financial advisor before making any public announcements. This jackpot is now the biggest ever won in New Jersey and is among the largest in U.S. lottery history, ranking as the eighth-largest overall and the fifth-largest in Mega Millions history.
Other Big Winners Across the Nation
In addition to the record-breaking win in New Jersey, there were nearly 3.7 million winning tickets from this drawing across various prize tiers. Thirteen tickets matched five white balls for second-tier prizes. One such ticket from New York included the Megaplier and is worth $2 million, while others won $1 million each across several states, including California, Colorado, Florida (2), Georgia (2), Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York (2), and Ohio.
The odds of hitting the jackpot are approximately 1 in 302.6 million, making these wins even more remarkable. The next major U.S. lottery drawing will be for an estimated $865 million Powerball jackpot on Wednesday night. No one has won that prize since New Year’s Day after 36 drawings without a winner.
Recent Mega Millions Drawings and Winners
The Mega Millions drawing on June 25, 2024, saw the winning numbers 3, 16, 27, 47, 62, and the Mega Ball 8. The Megaplier was 4x. The estimated jackpot for this draw was $97 million, with a cash option of $46.4 million. Although no one won the jackpot, the previous jackpot was won on June 4 by a player in Illinois who took home $552 million, the ninth largest Mega Millions jackpot.
The Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Tickets cost $2 each, with the option to add the Megaplier for an additional $1. Players select five numbers from a range of 1 to 70 for the white balls and one number from a range of 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball. Quick Pick is also available for random number selection.
Florida’s Recent Lottery Wins
In Florida, a ticket matched five numbers for a $1 million prize on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Another ticket from Pennsylvania matched five plus the Megaplier for a $3 million prize. The winning numbers for the May 17 drawing were 8, 17, 40, 60, 70, and the Mega Ball was 3. The Megaplier was 2x. The cash option for this draw was $182.9 million.
The next Mega Millions lottery drawing will be at 11 p.m. EST on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. This streak started after someone in Neptune, New Jersey, won a $1.13 billion jackpot on March 25. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350, with prizes ranging from $2 for matching just the Mega Ball to varying grand prize jackpots.
Powerball Winners and Upcoming Drawings
The Powerball drawing on March 25, 2024, had winning numbers 7, 11, 19, 53, 68, and the Powerball 23. The Power Play was 2x. The current jackpot after no grand prize winner from Saturday’s drawing is $865 million, with a cash value of $416.1 million. This is the fifth largest jackpot in the game’s history.
The Mega Millions drawing for Tuesday, March 25, 2024, had a jackpot amount of $1.1 billion, with a cash value of $525.8 million. No grand prize winner emerged from Friday’s drawing, making this the sixth largest jackpot in Mega Millions history. Match 5 winners worth $1 million each were found in Florida and New York.
The next Powerball drawing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 27, at 10:59 p.m. ET. Ticket purchase deadlines vary by state, with Delaware allowing purchases until 9:45 p.m. ET on the day of the drawing, and New Jersey and Pennsylvania until 9:59 p.m. ET. Powerball drawings are held three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. Each play costs $2, and tickets can be bought online in Pennsylvania and New Jersey via their respective lottery websites.
How to Play and Win
To play Powerball, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. Players can choose numbers manually or let the lottery terminal randomly pick them. There are nine ways to win prizes, with the option to increase winnings through “Power Play,” which multiplies non-jackpot wins up to ten times when the jackpot is $150 million or less for an additional $1 per play. All prizes are set cash amounts except for the grand prize; California has pari-mutuel payouts based on sales and the number of winners.
The odds of winning the grand prize are 1 in 292,201,338, while the lowest prize ($4) has odds of 1 in 38.32. The overall odds of winning any prize are approximately 1 in 24.87.
Claiming Prizes and Anonymity Rules
In Florida, lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. The single-payment cash option must be claimed within 60 days after the applicable draw date. Winners cannot remain anonymous; their information is public record, but winners of $250,000 or more can temporarily remain anonymous for 90 days unless waived by them.
In New Jersey, winners can remain anonymous under certain laws. It is advised that winners sign and secure their tickets and consult a financial advisor before making any public announcements.
Playing Responsibly
While winning the lottery can be life-changing, it is essential to play responsibly. Resources are available for those who may have a gambling problem. Always remember that the odds of winning are extremely low, and it is crucial to play within your means.
The excitement of winning the lottery is undeniable, and for the lucky few who do, it can be a dream come true. Whether it’s a record-breaking jackpot or a smaller prize, the thrill of the game keeps millions of people playing every week.
