A single ticket in Illinois has the winning numbers for one of the largest lottery sweepstakes in U.S. history — meaning, for one lucky person, the dream of winning a prize worth more than $1 billion has become a reality.
The Mega Millions lottery totaled $1.28 billion and the winning numbers were 13-36-45-57-67 and 14. This is the third largest award in the United States ever and the largest in almost four years. According to the lottery organizers, there was one winning ticket in the lottery and it was purchased in Illinois in the Midwest of the United States.
“We’re excited to see one of the biggest wins in Mega Millions history,” said Pat McDonald, Ohio Lottery director who currently serves as chief executive officer of the lottery organization. “We are eager to find out who won and look forward to congratulating the winner soon,” he added.
The $1.28 billion prize is to be paid in 30 annual payments spanning 29 years. Almost all lottery winners in the United States choose instead to receive the prize in cash, which for the current lottery is estimated at $747.2 million.
The odds of winning the entire pot were 1 in 302.5 million.