$1.7 Trillion US Lottery Winner Emerges... "No Contact Yet"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] A lottery winner with a prize exceeding 1.7 trillion won has emerged in the United States.

According to CNN and other outlets on the 30th (local time), one lottery ticket sold in Illinois matched the winning numbers announced the previous day. The prize is estimated at $1.337 billion (approximately 1.75 trillion won). This is the second-largest prize in Mega Millions lottery history and the third-largest lottery prize in the entire United States.

The Mega Millions lottery requires matching 5 numbers from 1 to 70 and 1 Mega Ball number from 1 to 25, totaling 6 numbers. The winning numbers this time were 13, 36, 45, 57, 67, and the Mega Ball number 14. No winners had been announced since mid-April, allowing the prize to accumulate until now.

The Illinois Lottery authorities stated that the winning ticket was sold at a gas station and convenience store in Des Plaines, about 32 km from downtown Chicago. An Illinois Lottery official said, "We have not yet heard from the winner. We don't even know if they are aware they have won. We urge everyone to check their tickets."

The winner can choose to receive the prize as an annuity over 29 years or take a lump sum cash option of $780.5 million. Most winners so far have opted for the cash option.

The largest lottery prize in U.S. history was $1.586 billion from the Powerball in 2016. However, the prize was split among three winners. The second-largest prize was $1.537 billion from Mega Millions in South Carolina in October 2018. Accordingly, this winner will receive the second-largest amount ever awarded to an individual.

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