TRENTON, New Jersey – The Mega Millions frenzy came to an end on Wednesday morning with one lucky ticket holder in the Garden State striking it rich with the $1.13 billion jackpot. Lottery officials have confirmed that the winning ticket, matching all the numbers, was sold in New Jersey, making someone an instant billionaire.
The exact location of the winning ticket in New Jersey has not been disclosed yet, but the news of a new billionaire in the state has caused excitement across the region. This jackpot ranks as the fifth largest in the history of the multistate game, leaving many eager to know who the lucky winner is.
While the multimillion-dollar jackpot was won in New Jersey, tickets matching five out of the six numbers were also sold in 13 other states, with one ticket even carrying the Megaplier, doubling its value to $2 million. The winning numbers for Tuesday’s Mega Millions draw were 7, 11, 22, 29, 38, and the Megaball number was 4.
The massive jackpot prize, along with the simultaneously soaring $865 million Powerball jackpot, marks a historic moment as both national lottery games have seen their jackpots reach such staggering amounts at the same time. The unprecedented growth of these jackpots was fueled by months without a grand prize winner, enticing more people to participate in the games.
The odds of winning these enormous jackpots are extremely low, with the chances of matching all the numbers in Mega Millions at 1 in 302.6 million, and in Powerball slightly better at 1 in 292.2 million. Despite the monumental prizes up for grabs, there is still a significant possibility that no one will hit the jackpot in the end.
As exciting as the prospect of winning such massive jackpots may be, winners should be prepared for substantially lower cash payouts than the headline figures suggest. Most winners opt for the cash prize rather than the annuity option, as state lotteries advertise the total payoff over a 30-year period. The actual cash prize for the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot is estimated to be $537.5 million, and for the $865 million Powerball jackpot, it would be approximately $416 million.
The Mega Millions and Powerball games have captured the attention of millions across the nation, with players eagerly anticipating the next drawing to see if they could be the next lucky winner. The excitement and anticipation surrounding these massive jackpots serve as a reminder of the thrill and hope that the lottery brings to so many people every week.