The mystery is over: Winner of the $1.128 billion Mega Millions claims the prize nine months later

Nine months after a Mega Millions ticket in New Jersey won the historic prize of $1.128 billion, the lucky winner claimed their prize, it was revealed this Tuesday.

The lottery announced that the winning ticket was sold at the ShopRite liquor store located on Route 66 in Neptune Township, New Jersey. The winner purchased only one ticket and manually selected the winning numbers, without using the Quick Pick option that generates random numbers.

This detail has added a touch of mystery to the story, as it was not a random selection of the player, who, according to the regulations, had up to 12 months from the date of the drawing to claim their prize. This means that the process of verification and distribution of the money could continue for some time longer.

The ShopRite store, where the ticket was sold, celebrated the event with a press conference the day after the drawing and announced that it would donate its bonus of $30,000 to a local charity.

Although the initial amount of the prize was substantial, the winner will receive a significantly smaller sum after deducting state and federal taxes.

The lucky player chose to receive the payout in cash, which reduces the initial jackpot amount from $1.128 billion to $537.5 million, as reported by Mega Millions authorities, explained the local media outlet NJ.com.

This is the most popular option among winners, as it allows for a lump sum payment instead of annual payments over several years.

However, the final payment will not be as high due to tax deductions. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will withhold 24% of the amount for federal taxes, which amounts to approximately $129 million. Additionally, the state of New Jersey imposes an 8% state tax on prizes exceeding $500,000, which further reduces the prize by about $43 million.

This leaves the winner with approximately $365.5 million after taxes, a figure that remains astronomical but is significantly lower than the original prize.

The winner, whose name has not been revealed, chose to remain anonymous in accordance with New Jersey state laws, which allow lottery jackpot winners to keep their identities confidential. This prize has become the fifth largest in Mega Millions history and the biggest ever won in New Jersey.

Although the prize is substantial, the winner may face additional taxes when filing their annual tax return, as lottery winnings are considered taxable income. This could result in the winner being required to pay up to 37% in federal taxes, further increasing the total amount they will owe in taxes.

With this announcement, the mystery that lasted more than nine months comes to an end, leaving behind a story that has captured the attention of millions who were eager to find out who the fortunate individual was.

This prize is part of the $1.128 billion won in the Mega Millions drawing held on March 10, 2024.

From now on, the winner will need to manage this newfound fortune wisely.

Now the focus is on the upcoming Mega Millions drawing, with the jackpot nearing one billion dollars again.

Frequently Asked Questions about the $1.128 Billion Mega Millions Prize