The winning numbers for the $1.28 billion Mega Millions jackpot were found on a ticket purchased in Illinois. hide caption Paul Sancya/AP
Toggle Caption Paul Sancya/AP
The winning numbers for the $1.28 billion Mega Millions jackpot were found on a ticket purchased in Illinois.
Paul Sancya/AP CHICAGO The $1.28 billion Mega Millions jackpot was won against all odds by a resident of a Chicago suburb.
One jackpot-winning ticket was included in the draw on Friday night, according to megamillions.com , and it was purchased from a Speedway gas station and convenience shop in Des Plaines.
The lucky numbers were 13, 36, 45, 57, 67, and Mega Ball was 14.
In a statement posted on the lottery’s website, Ohio Lottery Director Pat McDonald, who is also the Lead Director for the Mega Millions Consortium, said, “We are happy to have witnessed one of the greatest prize winners in Mega Millions history. We can’t wait to congratulate the winner and are anxious to learn who won!
The jackpot was the third-largest lottery award in the country. It increased in size because no one has successfully matched the six randomly chosen numbers since April 15. That makes 29 drawings in a row without a jackpot winner.
For winners who select the annuity option, which is paid out annually over 29 years, the prize is worth $1.28 billion. The majority of winners choose the cash option, which for the drawing on Friday night was projected to be worth $747.2 million.
One in 302.5 million people have a chance of winning the jackpot.
According to the Illinois Lottery, the retailer who sold the ticket is also a very significant winner; it will get paid $500,000 just for doing so.
Along with Washington, D.C., and the United States, Mega Millions is played in 45 states. Caribbean islands. State lotteries are in charge of organizing the game.
