December 23rd 2024.
After nine long months, the winner of a whopping $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot has finally come forward to claim their prize. This lucky individual, who resides in New Jersey, has submitted their winning ticket and is now able to start collecting their massive sum of money. It's an incredible story that proves dreams really do come true.
According to NBC New York, the winning numbers for this life-changing jackpot were 7, 11, 22, 29, 38, and the gold Mega Ball 4. These numbers were hand-picked by the winner themselves, as they did not opt for a quick pick ticket. The odds were definitely not in their favor, with a one in 302,575,350 chance of winning, but they beat the odds and are now the proud owner of the fifth-largest Mega Millions jackpot in history.
Not only is this the fifth-largest Mega Millions jackpot, but it also ranks as the eighth-largest amount in American lottery history. The winner has chosen to receive the lump sum prize, which amounts to about $537 million before taxes. However, despite their newfound wealth, they have opted to remain anonymous. Thanks to a new law signed by Governor Phil Murphy, lottery winners in New Jersey are now able to stay anonymous and do not have to publicly claim their winnings.
In addition to the lucky winner, there is also a beneficiary in this story – the ShopRite in Neptune where the ticket was purchased. As a token of appreciation, the store will receive $30,000 for selling the winning ticket. The CEO of ShopRite has announced that they will be donating these funds to a food bank serving Monmouth and Ocean Counties, making this win even more meaningful.
This incredible jackpot win comes just weeks after a man in California sued the lottery claiming he is entitled to the other half of a $394 million jackpot. He argues that he purchased two tickets with the same winning numbers, but lost the second one. Similarly, in mid-December, a Powerball player who won a $256 million jackpot from a ticket purchased at a supermarket in Queens, New York has yet to come forward and claim their prize.
In the world of lotteries, there are always stories of missed opportunities and lost tickets. But in this case, it's a heartwarming story of someone's life being changed forever by a single ticket purchased at a local ShopRite. And thanks to the option to remain anonymous, the winner can now enjoy their newfound fortune without any added pressure or attention.
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