Florida Ticket Wins Record $1.58 billion Mega Millions Jackpot

Mega Millions history was made on Tuesday August 8. A ticket sold in Florida won the massive $1.58 billion jackpot. That’s the largest ever top prize in the history of this American lottery and the first win since April 18.

The jackpot had been scheduled to be $1.55 billion but such was the demand for tickets it rose to $1.58 billion.

Lucky numbers 

These were the lucky numbers that the ticket sold in Florida was able to successfully match: 13-19-20-32-33 and the all-important Mega Ball, 14. Six other tickets matched the five main numbers to each make their owners millionaires.

Just who the winner of the record Mega Millions jackpot is hasn’t been revealed. We do know that their winning ticket was purchased from a Publix supermarket in Neptune Beach, Florida.

The win overtakes the previous record of $1.537 billion that was won in South Carolina five years ago.

Big decision time 

Whoever is the lucky Mega Millions jackpot winner now has two massive decisions to make. Firstly, do they remain anonymous or reveal their identity. Then do they accept their winnings as an annuity or a one-off lump sum payment?

If they choose the annuity method, one payment will be received now. The rest of their winnings will be paid in 29 annual payments. 

Alternatively, they can accept their Mega Millions win as a one-off payment of $783.3 million. Their winnings will be subject to payment of both state and federal taxes. 

It’s the first time a ticket sold in Florida has won the Mega Millions jackpot since October of last year. 

This is the seventh time the Mega Millions jackpot has been won in 2023. It’s also the second time that the top prize has gone through the $1 billion mark.  January saw a ticket sold in Maine win $1.348 billion. 

Over $3.4 billion has been given out in jackpot wins in the first eight months of this year. Friday’s draw sees the jackpot return to $20 million.

Get some Mega Millions tickets  from Lottery24.