The mystery is over -- almost. The owner of a winning ticket for a $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot sold in August has officially come forward.
However, due to a new Florida law enacted in May, the owner of the ticket sold at a Publix in Neptune Beach, east of Jacksonville, can remain anonymous for 90 days after claiming the prize, WJAX-TV reported.
That means the ticketholder’s name (or names) will remain anonymous until Dec. 25, when lottery officials will reveal the name (or names) of the winner.
The $1.58 billion-winning Mega Millions jackpot ticket from the Aug. 8 drawing that was sold at a Publix in Neptune Beach has been claimed, the Florida Lottery has confirmed. https://t.co/t43D1Z2NVL
— ActionNewsJax (@ActionNewsJax) September 27, 2023
According to a form from the Florida Lottery, the winner of the $1.58 billion prize is listed as “Exempt pursuant to F.S. 24.1051.” That person, who played a Quick Pick ticket, also chose to take a lump sum of $783.3 million, according to the form.
That statue allows people who win more than $250,000 in a lottery game to hide their identity.
Lottery officials did not confirm whether the winner took the lump sum or the annuity, and did not specify the estimated lump sum amount, according to The Associated Press.
The jackpot-winning ticket, sold on Aug. 8, surpassed the previous record of $1.537 billion, won in South Carolina on Oct. 23, 2018.
The winning numbers drawn were 13-19-20-32-33 and the Megaball was 14. The multiplier was 2X.
At the time, the winner was Florida’s fourth Mega Millions jackpot winner. WFLA-TV reported. A fifth winning ticket, worth $36 million, was sold a week later, according to the television station.
Meanwhile, numbers for the Powerball jackpot, currently at $850 million, will be drawn on Wednesday night. It is the fourth-largest jackpot in the promotion’s history.
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