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Mega Millions jackpot winner scoops $640m Mega Millions jackpot winners scoop $640m
(about 6 hours later)
The largest lottery jackpot in history, $640m (£400m), has been won in the US by a ticket holder in Maryland. The largest lottery jackpot in history – $640m (£400m) – has been shared in the US by at least three ticket holders.
Officials are now waiting to see if there are other winning tickets. Winning tickets were purchased in Maryland, Illinois and Kansas, according to officials and media reports. The Maryland winner bought the ticket in a 7-Eleven store, a lottery official said.
Maryland lottery officials announced that a winning ticket was purchased at a store in Baltimore County, though they had not identified the winner yet. "It was a quick pick and only one ticket was purchased [by the winner]", the Maryland official said. "We don't know who this person is."
"This is truly remarkable and historic," said Maryland lottery director Stephen Martino. If there is more than one winning ticket with all six numbers, the winners split the jackpot. The owners of the 7-Eleven store receive a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. If no-one else comes forward each of the three winners would net more than $213m.
The winning numbers announced at the draw in Atlanta on Friday night were 2-4-23-38-46 plus the Mega Ball 23. It was expected to take hours to identify possible winners due to the sheer number of the $1 tickets sold. The winning numbers announced at the draw in Atlanta on Friday night were 2,4,23,38 and 46, plus the Mega Ball, 23. Odds of winning the entire jackpot were 175m-1, said Margaret DeFrancisco, president and chief executive of the Georgia Lottery Corporation.
Odds of winning the entire jackpot are 175m-1, said Margaret DeFrancisco, president and chief executive of the Georgia Lottery Corporation.
If a single ticket matches all six winning numbers, the player would receive either a one-time payment of $462m or the full jackpot in 26 annual installments.
"There is a tremendous amount of buzz and excitement," DeFrancisco said. Buyers lined up this week across the US to purchase the lottery tickets.
"I'm going to pay off my law school loans," one woman said. Another woman said she drove to Colorado from Wyoming to buy tickets because the Mega Millions game isn't available there.
The previous largest Mega Millions jackpot was $390m in 2007, which was split between two ticket holders in Georgia and New Jersey.The previous largest Mega Millions jackpot was $390m in 2007, which was split between two ticket holders in Georgia and New Jersey.
About half the lottery money goes back to ticket holders in the form of winnings, 35% to state governments and 15% to retailer commissions and lottery operating expenses. About half the lottery money goes back to ticket holders in the form of winnings, 35% to state governments and 15% to retailer commissions and lottery operating expenses. Another winner is the US internal revenue service. The US tax-collecting agency subjects lottery winnings of more than $5,000 (£3,100) to a 25% federal withholding tax.
No matter who wins the jackpot, one certain winner is the US Internal Revenue Service. The tax-collecting agency subjects lottery winnings of more than $5,000 (£3,100) to a 25% federal withholding tax. Even the wealthy succumbed to the lottery bug. NBA basketball player Chris Singleton, who earns a reported $1.5m playing for the Washington Wizards, said on Twitter that he planned to splurge $10,000 on tickets.
Even the wealthy have succumbed to the lottery bug. NBA basketball player Chris Singleton, who earns a reported $1.5m playing for the Washington Wizards, said on Twitter that he planned to splurge $10,000 on tickets. On Friday, the lottery estimated that total ticket sales for this jackpot, which has been building up since 28 January, would be about $1.46bn.
On Friday, the lottery estimated that total ticket sales for this jackpot, which has been building up since 28 January, will be about $1.46bn, said Kelly Cripe, for the Texas Lottery Commission.