'1.7 Trillion Won Jackpot' Lottery Winner Finally Emerges... Winner in Illinois, USA

A lottery winner with the third largest prize in history has emerged in Illinois, USA.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] A winner has emerged in Illinois, USA, receiving one of the top three largest lottery prizes in U.S. history.

According to the Mega Millions website on the 30th (local time), a Mega Millions ticket sold in Illinois matched all the winning numbers 13, 36, 45, 57, 67 and the bonus Mega Ball number 14 in the lottery drawing held the previous night.

The Associated Press reported that the ticket was sold at a gas station and convenience store in Des Plaines, a suburb of Chicago.

The Mega Millions jackpot amounts to $1.337 billion (approximately 1.7475 trillion KRW), making it the second largest in Mega Millions history and the third largest in the history of all U.S. lotteries. The final prize amount could increase after the total ticket sales are fully tallied.

Mega Millions is one of the lotteries issued in the U.S., where players must match all six numbers?five regular numbers and one Mega Ball?to win the jackpot. The odds of winning first prize are 1 in 325 million. Second prize is awarded for matching five numbers only, with a fixed prize of $1 million. Subsequent prize tiers are determined by matching four numbers plus the Mega Ball, four numbers, three numbers, and so on.

The largest U.S. lottery prize to date was the $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot in January 2016, which was split among three winners. Therefore, this winner will receive the second largest amount following the $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot won in South Carolina in October 2018.

The winner can choose between two payout options: receiving the prize as an annuity over 29 years or taking a lump sum cash option of $780.5 million (approximately 1.0201 trillion KRW). Most winners have opted for the cash option. However, the winner must pay at least 24% federal tax (30% for non-residents), as well as state and local taxes, so the actual amount received will be less.

Pat McDonald, director of the Ohio Lottery and head of the Mega Millions consortium, said, "We are very excited to witness one of the largest jackpots in Mega Millions history," adding, "We are eager to find out who the winner is and look forward to congratulating them soon."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.