On March 26, one lucky soul won the Mega Millions top prize worth $1.13 billion, but nobody has come forward to claim the reward. As the ninth largest in the history of lottery jackpots in the United States, the explanation is only one.
One of Largest Mega Millions of Jackpots Sits Unclaimed
The person who won must have lost their ticket, or they must not be aware that they had won. The winner has a year to claim the reward, and not much is known about them, just yet, other than whoever holds the ticket bought it in New Jersey.
The feeling that the jackpot may be forfeited in the end also comes down to what previous instances of unclaimed jackpots suggest. Most people claim their jackpots – be that small or big, not to mention astronomical – within several weeks.
The absence of the newly-minted billionaire points to only one logical conclusion – they are none the wiser about what they had got on their hands, or more likely – have lost the ticket. Yet, the Mega Millions Consortium will keep onto the jackpot for the statutory period before returning it to participating states.
The winning ticket was bought at the ShopRite grocery and liquor store in Neptune, near Asbury Park, and the player, who paid the customary $2 for the ticket, won with the 7, 11, 22, 29, 38, and 4 as the Mega Ball number.
New Jersey Lottery Doesn’t Mind Waiting Up on Laggards
Should the person ever come forward to claim the jackpot, they would have to opt for either a one-time cash payment reducing the amount won to $537.5 million after all taxes are applied or choose an annuity which will be paid in smaller instalments and over 30 years.
New Jersey is also one of the most generous states when it comes to how much time you have to claim your rewards, as there are states, such as Oregon, that expect any winner to claim their winnings within 60 days. Then, some lotteries allow for up to six months and some that go even longer.
In the meantime, the Powerball jackpot is on the up with $275 million and still a chance for some lucky soul to claim the life-altering amount tonight.
