A Wawa station in the city of Bradenton, on the west coast of Florida, was the place where the ticket that made a lucky person the winner of the 800 million dollars Mega Millions jackpot was sold, as confirmed by Telemundo 51.
The drawing took place this Tuesday, and the winner has not yet shown any signs of life.
The ticket was purchased at the convenience store and gas station located at 14510 State Road 70 E, in the aforementioned city of Manatee County.
The winning combination was 34, 48, 49, 59, and 70, with Mega Ball 12.
Bradenton is a city located on the banks of the Manatee River and very close to the Gulf of Mexico.
Known for its tranquil atmosphere, seaside parks, and proximity to some of the state's most famous beaches, such as Anna Maria Island, it combines the charm of a residential community with a growing range of shops, restaurants, and cultural activities.
In addition, it is a popular destination among retirees, tourists, and families, and it serves as the spring training site for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball, making it a point of interest for baseball fans.
Bradenton does not have as large a Cuban community as Miami, Hialeah, or Tampa, which significantly reduces the chances that the winner of the coveted prize was a citizen of Cuban descent, although nothing is impossible.
The tenth largest prize in the history of Mega Millions
The Mega Millions described the moment in an official statement: "A lucky ticket holder in the Sunshine State will celebrate the summer in a big way with a Mega Millions jackpot!"
The $800 million prize is the largest lottery prize of 2026 and the tenth largest in the history of Mega Millions, a lottery that takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays in 45 states across the country.
The drawing also ended a streak of 38 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner, which had been ongoing since March 17, 2026.
During that period, nearly 10.9 million tickets won minor prizes totaling over 273 million dollars.
How much money will the winner actually receive?
The fortunate individual will need to make an important decision in the next 60 days: to choose between an annual payment of 800 million distributed in 30 installments, or a one-time cash payment, estimated at 344.2 million dollars before taxes.
If you choose a lump sum payment, the mandatory federal withholding of 24% would reduce that amount to approximately 261.6 million. Applying the maximum federal rate of 37%, the final net amount could be around 165.6 million dollars.
There is a key advantage for the winner: Florida is one of only eight states that do not impose state taxes on lottery winnings.
As noted by Telemundo 51, "there are only eight states that do not impose state taxes on lottery winnings, which means they offer the highest payout, and Florida is one of them."
If the winner does not choose the cash payment within 60 days, the prize will be automatically paid out in 30 annual installments.
In total, you have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim the prize, and due to exceeding one million dollars, the process must be carried out at the Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee.
Will the winner be able to keep their identity a secret?
Florida law provides relevant temporary protection.
According to Telemundo 51, “when the prize is more than $250,000, the winner's identity remains confidential for 90 days from the date they claim the prize.”
After that period, the name becomes a matter of public record.
However, the winners have the option to claim through a trust or an LLC, making only the name of the trustee or their lawyer public.
This temporary anonymity law of Florida is in effect until October 2, 2027.
Florida, land of great prizes
This is not the first time Florida has achieved a milestone in the Mega Millions. Since the state joined the game in 2013, it has won or shared six major prizes.
The absolute record for the lottery belongs precisely to Florida: the $1.602 billion won on August 8, 2023, with a ticket sold in Neptune Beach, claimed by Saltines Holdings, LLC in September of that year.
In addition to the grand winner in Florida, two second-tier tickets also had a memorable night: one in New York won 3 million dollars with a 3x multiplier, and another in Illinois won 5 million with a 5x multiplier, both correctly guessing the five white numbers without the Mega Ball.
The next Mega Millions drawing will take place on Friday, August 1, at 11 p.m. ET, with a jackpot reset to 50 million dollars and a cash option of 21.5 million.
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