Lucky location where $800M Mega Million jackpot ticket was sold revealed: ‘Dream come to life’
They won’t worry about prices at the pump ever again.
A lucky Mega Millions ticket holder in Florida won the estimated $800 million jackpot — the largest of the year and tenth-largest in the game’s history — on Tuesday night.
Now, it has emerged that the winning ticket was sold at a Wawa gas station in Bradenton, near Sarasota on the state’s Gulf Coast.
The winning ticket was sold at a Wawa gas station in Bradenton, near Sarasota on the state’s Gulf Coast. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
“Wawa customers love to get their lottery tickets with their morning coffee or afternoon hoagie, and play for the American dream,” the gas station and convenience store chain said in a statement congratulating the lucky winner.
“It’s truly amazing to see this dream come to life today.”
The winning numbers were 34, 48, 49, 59, 70 and the gold Mega Ball 12.
The unidentified ticket holder can choose between cashing in the $800 million prize over time or as a singular pre-tax $344.2 million cash payout.
They have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim their prize, but if they choose the lump sum, the claim must be filed within 60 days, Florida Lottery said.
The unknown ticket holder has the choice to cash in the $800 million prize over time or take home a singular pre-tax $344.2 million cash payout. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Choosing the lump sum, the most common option for jackpot winners, would cost 24% of the winnings to mandatory federal withholding, cutting the prize money to an estimated $261.6 million.
“We are thrilled to congratulate Florida’s newest Mega Millions jackpot winner on this incredible, life-changing moment,” Florida Lottery Secretary Reginald Dixon said.
“This win is an exciting reminder that every ticket carries the possibility of a dream come true.”
Two other players struck gold with the second-tier prizes, winning the Match 5 prize with all five white ball numbers correct.
A $3 million winning ticket was sold at the Corner Market in Buffalo, NY. Another ticket worth $5 million was sold in Illinois.
The $800 million prize is the tenth largest in Mega Millions history, surpassing the $656 million jackpot shared by three winners from Illinois, Kansas and Maryland in March 2012.
