Ticket sold in New Jersey wins $521m Mega Millions jackpot

TICKET SOLD IN NEW JERSEY WINS $521M MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT

Players of the Mega Millions lottery had spent all week dreaming of winning the $521m jackpot that was up for grabs in Friday’s draw. It was one ticket sold at the Lukoil station in Riverdale, New Jersey, USA, that had most reason to celebrate as it matched the five main balls and the Mega Ball to win the top prize.The days leading up to the Mega Millions draw had seen players flocking to buy tickets hoping they would be the big jackpot winner. The numbers drawn in the March 30 Mega Millions draw were 11-28-31-46-59 and the Mega Ball 01. With numbers such as those, it means the winning ticket didn’t rely on birthdays and anniversaries to land their big prize. That’s what Judy Finchum from Colorado, USA, did to win $133.2m playing Powerball.The winner of the Mega Millions jackpot has yet to come forward to claim their prize. Some winners do take a while to collect their winnings. For example, Ina H. Fernandez, from Virginia, USA, took until just day before the expiry deadline to claim a $3m Mega Millions prize.Down under, we’re still waiting for the winner of a $55m Australian Powerball jackpot in January to come forward.Whoever has won the Mega Millions jackpot will have a major decision to make just like Shane Missler from Florida, who earlier this year won a $450m Mega Millions jackpot. The options are accepting it as annuity, paid in annual payments over a period of 29 years, or accept the one-off cash option of $317m which would then be subject to taxes.Gordon Medenica, who is the Mega Millions lead director, commented “Hearty congratulations to New Jersey for their big Mega Millions win. The whole country can’t wait to meet the newest millionaire, but we all shared in the fun of playing.” It’s another massive win in the state after Pearlie Mae Smith won a $429.6m Powerball jackpot.This huge jackpot was the fourth highest Mega Millions in in the game’s 16-year history. It’s the 18th time the Mega Millions jackpot has been won in the month of March. The win comes six years to the day that a record $656m Mega Millions jackpot was won when tickets sold in Maryland, Kansas and Illinois shared the massive prize.The next Mega Millions draw takes place on Tuesday April 3 with the jackpot returning to $40m. Play online now and purchase your tickets at Lottery24.com.