In the USA, a jackpot of the American lottery Mega Millions in the amount of 1.28 billion US dollars (1.25 billion euros) has been cracked. “We’re excited to see who won and we’re looking forward to congratulating the winner soon!” the organizer announced on its website on Saturday.
According to Mega Millions, the ticket was bought in the US state of Illinois. According to this, the owner of the winning ticket, which cost two dollars to buy, typed the correct numbers in Friday’s drawing: 13, 36, 45, 57, 67 and 14 in the special category Mega Ball.
According to Mega Millions, the actual profit is even slightly higher than the estimate based on actual sales and is around 1.34 billion US dollars (1.31 billion euros).
The winner can choose between a lump sum payment or a payout over 30 years. Most winners opt for the lump sum, which, according to the lottery operators, is associated with a high tax burden.
The $1.34 billion is the second largest jackpot in the lottery’s 20-year history, according to the lottery. Only once, in October 2018, had a player from South Carolina hit a higher jackpot ($1.54 billion). The lottery is represented in 44 states as well as in the capital Washington and on the Virgin Islands.
The chance of winning the Mega Millions jackpot was about 1 in 303 million. According to data from the US authorities, the probability of being struck by lightning is one in a million.