California Mega Millions lottery ticket wins $522 million jackpot

California Mega Millions lottery ticket wins $522 million jackpot

The winner can either take the entire US$522 million in instalments or an immediate lump sum of US$308 million.

A sign displays that the Mega Millions Lottery prize is estimated at $522 million, before the drawing, at a newsstand in the Brooklyn, New York City, US, July 2018. (Reuters pic)
SACRAMENTO:
At least one lottery fan will wake up significantly richer on Wednesday after they purchased the only winning US Mega Millions ticket, worth US$522 million, in Tuesday’s draw.

The winning numbers of 1-2-4-19-29, plus a Powerball of 20, were worth the fifth largest payout in the game’s history following 22 consecutive failed draws.

The only ticket to match all six numbers was sold in San Jose, California at Ernie’s Liquors, the state’s lottery said on Twitter. “I’m still digesting what happened,” the 65-year-old store owner told the Mercury News newspaper.

The amount in the pot is based on sales in 44 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. It had been climbing steadily since May 8.

The winner can either take the entire US$522 million in instalments or an immediate lump sum of US$308 million.

The largest Mega Millions lottery grand prize was US$656 million, won in 2012. Three winning tickets were sold in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland.

The Powerball lottery holds the overall record with a US$1.586 billion payout in 2016.

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