A single ticket sold inNew Jersey matched all six winning numbers for the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot, the fifth-highest jackpot in the history of that game of chance.
This has been one of the eight occasions in which the accumulated amount has exceeded one billion dollars.
The winning numbers in this Tuesday's drawing were 7, 11, 22, 29, 38 and 4.
The winner of the prize - whose identity has not been revealed - will have the option to choose between the full prize in annuities for 29 years or a cash payment of 525.8 million.
Until the closing of this note, the exact place where the winning ticket was sold has not been revealed.
Lottery authorities in New Jersey have scheduled a press conference at noon this Wednesday in which they will announce this information.
Another 13 tickets won at least $1 million by matching the first five balls in the drawing.
The lucky ones are from California, Colorado,Florida (2), Georgia (2), Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York (2) and Ohio.
In New York there was also a winner who matched five numbers plus themegaplier.
Tuesday's jackpot comes seven months after the largest prize in Mega Millions history, $1.602 million, was purchased in Neptune Beach, Florida.
The last time anyone had won the Mega Millions jackpot was Dec. 8 of last year, when two $394 million winning tickets were sold at a Chevron gas station in Encino, California.
Despite the slim chance of winning, which is one in 302.6 million, players continue to buy tickets as the jackpot size increases.
Mega Millions began on August 31, 1996, but was then known as the Big Game.
The first drawing was held on September 6, 1996, and six states participated: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Virginia.
In Mega Millions, players must select six numbers from two groups: five numbers from 1 to 70 and one number from 1 to 25 (the golden Mega Ball). To win the jackpot you must match the six winning numbers in the drawing, which takes place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
The opportunity to purchase Mega Millions tickets is available at most gas stations and markets in 45 US states, in addition to the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands and costs two dollars. The places where it is not played are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.
Federal and state taxes will also reduce the money collected, with deductions depending on the state where you live.
Eight states, including Florida, do not charge income taxes on lottery winnings. They are California, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.
Mega Millions is the only lottery game to have awarded four jackpots exceeding $1 billion: in 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
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