Two people, who did not want to be named, claimed $1.337 Billion Mega Millions Jackpot After a single ticket was sold in a late July drawing in suburban Chicago, a $780.5 million single payout was chosen, lottery officials said Wednesday.
The Illinois Lottery said the prize for the July 29 drawing, which was the nation’s third-largest lottery prize, was claimed by two people who agreed to split the prize if they won.
Winners wish to remain anonymous and the Illinois Lottery said they could not share any information about the winners other than that they must be “over the moon” with their Mega Millions winnings. Whether a winner can remain anonymous varies by state.
Lottery officials said the two men have spent the past few weeks working with professional legal and financial advisors to support the claims process.
“These winners are now in the enviable position of deciding what to do with their new fortune,” said Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays.
According to megamillions.com, a jackpot winning ticket was purchased at a speedway Gas stations and convenience stores in Des Plaines.
Winning numbers were: 13-36-45-57-67, Mega Ball: 14.
The jackpot is so big because no one has matched the game’s six selected numbers since April 15. That’s 29 consecutive draws without a jackpot winner.
Mega Millions winners have one year from the date of the drawing to claim their prize, according to lottery rules. Winners also have 60 days to decide whether they want the money in a lump sum or smaller annual payments.
Winners aren’t the only ones who have won Mega Millions. Illinois retailers earned $3.75 million in commissions and bonuses from ticket sales, lottery officials said Earlier this month. The speedway that sold the winning ticket will receive a $500,000 bonus, according to the New York Post Report.
