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Two winning tickets in US $636m Mega Millions lottery Two winning tickets in US $636m Mega Millions lottery
(about 11 hours later)
Two winning tickets have been sold for the US's second largest jackpot in history, the $636m (£390m) Mega Millions draw, lottery officials say.Two winning tickets have been sold for the US's second largest jackpot in history, the $636m (£390m) Mega Millions draw, lottery officials say.
They said one ticket was sold in California, at Jennifer's Gift Shop in San Jose, and another ticket was sold in Atlanta, Georgia. One ticket was sold in California, at Jennifer's Gift Shop in San Jose, and another ticket was sold in Atlanta, Georgia.
Long queues were reported around the country in stores selling the tickets ahead of the draw.Long queues were reported around the country in stores selling the tickets ahead of the draw.
The winning numbers were 8, 14, 17, 20 and 39, with a Megaball of 7.The winning numbers were 8, 14, 17, 20 and 39, with a Megaball of 7.
Ira Curry, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was announced as the Georgia winner on Wednesday. She will take a lump sum payment of $123m after taxes, Georgia Lottery chief executive Debbie Alford said.
'Joyful tears'
The California winner has one year to come forward.
The current American jackpot record is $656m - that was split between three winners in 2012.The current American jackpot record is $656m - that was split between three winners in 2012.
The jackpot was previously estimated at $586m, but on Tuesday lottery officials increased their prediction due to strong ticket sales.The jackpot was previously estimated at $586m, but on Tuesday lottery officials increased their prediction due to strong ticket sales.
'Time for believing'
Undeterred by odds of one in 259 million, large queues of would-be winners formed at petrol stations and convenience stores in the 43 US states that participate in the draw.Undeterred by odds of one in 259 million, large queues of would-be winners formed at petrol stations and convenience stores in the 43 US states that participate in the draw.
If received in a lump cash sum as opposed to an annuity, the total would be $341m, a lottery official reported. If received in a lump cash sum as opposed to an annuity, the total would be $341m before taxes.
"I feel it. I believe. It's Christmas. It's time for believing and I know I'm going to win it," Nesha Isahak told Reuters news agency as she bought her ticket at a newsstand in Manhattan, New York. Ms Curry told lottery officials she was driving to work when she heard on the radio the final number of the sequence was 7.
"I think there's absolutely no way I am going to win this lottery," Tanya Joosten, 39, told the Associated Press news agency in Milwaukee. "But it's hard for such a small amount of money to not take the chance." She knew it was her Mega Ball number, so she called her daughter to check the ticket.
Not every winner need face the routine news conference with a bottle of bubbly and chunky cardboard cheque. "Between joyful tears and laughter on the daughter's part, she relayed to her mother that her mother had won the lottery," Ms Alford told the Associated Press news agency.
Six US states allow lottery winners to remain anonymous: South Carolina, Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota and Ohio. Ms Curry, her husband and other family members came to the lottery headquarters to claim the prize. Ms Alford said Ms Curry was "just in a state of disbelief".
In several other states, it is reportedly possible for winners to keep their names secret by claiming their jackpot through a trust or a limited liability company.