Florida Mega Millions Winner Yet to Claim Historic $1.58 Billion Prize
A staggering Mega Millions jackpot prize of $1.58 billion remains unclaimed in Florida, with the lucky winner having just two weeks left to come forward. This historic win put an end to an extended streak of prize rollovers in the state four months ago.
The winner of the Mega Millions jackpot in Florida has until October 7 to claim their winnings in a lump sum or can opt for an annuity payment, with the final deadline for the latter being February 4, 2024.
This remarkable Quick Pick ticket was purchased at a Publix grocery store located in Neptune Beach, making the anonymous individual the fourth Mega Millions jackpot winner in the state. The winning numbers drawn on August 8 were 13, 19, 20, 32, and 33, with the Mega Ball number being 14.
In Florida, lottery winners have 60 days to claim their jackpot prize as cash or 180 days if they prefer the annuity option. After tax deductions, the Mega Millions winner will receive either $996.5 million distributed over 29 years or a lump sum of $493.5 million.
Notably, Florida does not impose state taxes on lottery prizes, leaving the winner with only federal tax obligations. The jackpot generated immense excitement nationwide, becoming the highest prize in the history of the Mega Millions game following 31 consecutive rollovers since April 21, 2023.
The winner has the option to delay revealing their identity if they are not yet prepared to come forward. However, under Florida law, the winner’s identity will eventually be disclosed. Nonetheless, they can postpone the public release of their information for up to 90 days after claiming the prize, thanks to partial privacy laws.
How to Play Mega Millions
Participating in the Mega Millions lottery is as simple as purchasing a ticket for $2 per play. Players select five numbers ranging from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. An Easy Pick or Quick Pick option is available for those who prefer the terminal to randomly generate their numbers. To win the jackpot, all six drawn numbers must match.
Understanding the Megaplier
Many states offer the Megaplier feature, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes by factors of two, three, four, or five. Players can add this feature to their ticket for an extra $1 per play. Prior to each regular Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier is drawn, with a selection of 15 balls: five marked as “2X,” three as “4X,” and one as “5X.”
Largest Mega Millions Jackpots in History
The $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot in Florida in August 2023 now holds the record as the largest prize ever won in the history of the game. Other significant Mega Millions jackpots include:
- $1.537 billion won by a single ticket holder in South Carolina in October 2018.
- $1.348 billion claimed by a single ticket holder in Maine in January 2023.
- $1.337 billion awarded to a single ticket holder in Illinois in July 2022.
- $1.05 billion secured by a single ticket holder in Michigan in January 2021.