Updated: Sunday, Sept. 17, 2005, 1:22pm
The winning ticket in Friday night's $250 million Mega Millions lottery game was sold at a store in New Jersey, lottery officials said Saturday.
The winning amount is the largest single-ticket prize in state history. The estimated cash value of the jackpot is about $151 million before taxes.
The ticket was sold at Leprechaun News in Rutherford. The ticketholder had not contacted lottery officials by Saturday morning. A news conference is scheduled at the store at 10 a.m.
A total of 23 tickets came within just one number of hitting the jackpot. Each matched the first five numbers and only missed the Mega Ball number. Those tickets were purchased in California (2), Georgia (3), Illinois (1), Massachusetts (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), New Jersey (2) New York (6), Ohio (2), Texas (1), Virginia (1), and Washington (2).
Another 119 players matched four numbers, plus the Mega Ball number — good for third prizes of $10,000 each.
The winning numbers from Friday night's drawing were: 5, 16, 41, 46 and 50. The Mega Ball number was 1.
The Texas Megaplier was 4.
All drawing detail for Friday's Mega Millions drawing can be found at USA Mega.
The previous state record for the highest single-ticket lottery jackpot was held by Sonny Judson of Cliffside Park, who won $165 million in the Mega Millions drawing of July 16, 2002. The nation's record jackpot was $363 million, shared by two Mega Millions (then called "The Big Game") winners in May 2000. The largest single-ticket winner won a $314.9 million jackpot in the multi-state Powerball game on Christmas Day 2002.
Mega Millions is played in 12 states: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Washington and California.
Since the draw for the most recent Mega Millions began on July 26 with a jackpot of $12 million, players bought a total of more than $491 million worth of tickets, according to lottery officials.
The ticket was sold at Leprechaun News in Rutherford. The ticketholder had not contacted lottery officials by Saturday morning. A news conference is scheduled at the store at 10 a.m.
I wonder if the winner even knows they won the money. Several of my co-workers never check to see there was winner, or look at their tickets until after they have been at work for a couple of hours. Hopefully, when they discover their win, they will let intelligence overrule emotions. On the other hand, there is NO shortage of lawyers in the New York/New Jersey area.
Considering that they've yet to claim it, I'd think that they certainly don't know; I know that if I knew I had won that much I'd claim it fairly quickly.
If the jackpot hadn't been won, how much would it be now? Based on tickets sold, would it be larger than 300 000 000?
Congrats to the lucky winner/s! I hope they're LP members.
Congrats to the lucky winner/s! I hope they're LP members.
HAPPY SATURDAY...9/17.....TO ALL MY "BLOG BUDDIES"
HI AGAIN....."WISZEGUY".......you are certainly reading my mind. I would love to think that one of crew of the '"LP" WON THE JACKPOT.....Now , that would be awesome...WE ALL DESERVE to win ...
It's also awesome that only one person, had all the numbers....I believe that if the winner has realized he has the "winning ticket" that person is in such "shock" they are getting their immediate family members together, to help them calm down, and regroup. For a sum of such magnitude, one needs to make very smart decisions.......acquire Legal and Financial Advice.
I just hope it's NOT someone who is earning a $$$$ix Figure income already.........
As a Faithful "LP MEMBER".....congrats to whoever the winner my be......
Considering that they've yet to claim it, I'd think that they certainly don't know; I know that if I knew I had won that much I'd claim it fairly quickly.
actually, a lot of times, those who are smart about it first talk to lawyers and financial advisors and also rent out a mansion overseas before they claim their money :)
I wonder how fast the mind of the winner is spinning. I'd have to atleast call my heart doctor and get some calming pills - maybe a few thousand of them.
i hope he makes a nice big donation to the hurricane relief
i think he will
I hope too they make a donation to Katrina victims (and of Rita possibly.) But I'm not suggesting they help rebuild Detroit.