An anonymous winner has come forward for the Jan. 13 Mega Millions drawing. Photo: Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The sole winner of the $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot has claimed the winning ticket but remains anonymous, lottery officials announced Wednesday.
Driving the news: The winner of the Jan. 13 drawing — the fourth largest jackpot in U.S. history — chose the cash option, a one-time, lump-sum payment of approximately $723.6 million before taxes.
- The unnamed winner from Maine claimed the prize through a limited liability company, LaKoma Island Investments LLC.
- The winning ticket was purchased at the Hometown Gas & Grill in Lebanon, Maine. The store received a $50,000 bonus for selling the ticket.
- According to the Mega Millions website, some states require lotteries to publicly identify winners and others don't.
Mega Millions record jackpot
The jackpot was the second-largest Mega Millions prize in the game's history.
What's happening: The winning ticket was validated when a representative came to the lottery headquarters in Augusta on Friday, Michael Boardman, deputy director of the Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages & Lottery Operation, told the AP.
- The wire transfer will take place before the end of the week, the AP reported.
- The winning ticket was purchased for the January 13th drawing at the Hometown Gas & Grill in Lebanon, Maine. The store received a $50,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
Mega Millions drawing
Mega Millions drawings are held in Atlanta at 11 pm ET Tuesdays and Fridays.
- The drawings are posted on the Mega Millions YouTube page.
How it works: Two machines pick the numbers in the drawings, the first picking five white balls and the other selecting a gold "Mega Ball."
How to play Mega Millions game
Lottery players can pick six numbers from two separate pools — five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 25 (the gold Mega Ball).
- “Quick Pick” or “Easy Pick” tickets can also be purchased where numbers are selected automatically.
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