A Florida resident struck gold by winning the Mega Millions jackpot, which skyrocketed to an astounding $800 million as of Tuesday’s draw.
WASHINGTON — The lucky individual from Florida clinched the $800 million Mega Millions jackpot, marking the first such win of its kind this year on Tuesday evening.
Cementing its place in history, this mammoth prize ranks as the highest lottery award of the year and joins the elite club of Mega Millions’ top 10 largest jackpots ever. The fate-sealing numbers that led to this incredible win consisted of the white balls 34, 48, 49, 59, and 70, alongside the gold Mega Ball number 12.
Who won the Mega Millions jackpot?
State lottery officials confirmed that the winning ticket was purchased at a Wawa gas station, strategically situated at 14510 State Road 70 E in the bustling area of Bradenton, Florida.
For the jackpot victor, opting for the cash lump sum translates to a hefty $344.2 million payday, prior to tax deductions.
Winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim the prize, according to Mega Millions.
Can the winner stay anonymous?
The winner of the $800 million jackpot will have about 90 days after claiming the prize to stay anonymous.
After the initial 90 days, the winner’s name will no longer be confidential, and lottery officials can provide the winner’s name and city of residence to any third party that requests the information.
The 90-day anonymity period applies only to prizes over $250,000.
Florida lottery winners’ right to anonymity is a fairly new law, as the 90-day clause was enacted in 2022. Before that, Floridians who won big prizes had their names revealed as soon as they claimed their prizes.
The $800 million prize ranks as the 10th largest in the game’s history and the biggest win since last November. Florida also has a track record of winning, with the all-time largest jackpot, $1.602 billion, sold almost exactly three years ago in the Sunshine State. Here’s a full list of the top 10.
Top 10 biggest Mega Millions jackpots
1. $1.602 billion — Aug. 8, 2023 (Florida)
2. $1.537 billion — Oct. 23, 2018 (South Carolina)
3. $1.348 billion — Jan. 13, 2023 (Maine)
4. $1.337 billion — July 29, 2022 (Illinois)
5. $1.269 billion — Dec. 27, 2024 (California)
6. $1.128 billion — March 26, 2024 (New Jersey)
7. $1.05 billion — Jan. 22, 2021 (Michigan)
8. $983 million — Nov. 14, 2025 (Georgia)
9. $810 million — Sept. 10, 2024 (Texas)
10. $800 million — July 28, 2026 (Florida)