Mega Millions player narrowly misses out on $435m jackpot by a number – but pockets $1m as officials hunt for winner

A LOTTERY player missed out on pocketing over $400 million but still came away with a hefty sum.

The individual won $1 million after narrowly missing the jackpot by just one number.

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The Mega Millions ticket was sold in New York ahead of this Tuesday’s drawing, the Charlotte Observer reported.

The winner has not yet come forward to claim their prize and lottery officials have urged players to check their tickets .

The winning ticket was sold at a gas station in Shirley, about a one-hour drive from New York City.

It matched five numbers but not the Mega Ball drawing.

Nobody won the grand prize of $435 million this Tuesday, meaning the jackpot has risen to an estimated $464 million for Friday’s drawing.

The cash option for this whopping figure is approximately $228.2 million.

The winning numbers on Tuesday were 34, 55, 59, 65, and 70 – the Mega Ball was 12.

More than 864,000 other tickets sold across the U.S. won prizes ranging from $2 to $40,000 on Tuesday, according to lottery officials.

The Mega Millions jackpot has not been claimed since an Illinois player won the $552 million prize on June 4.

CLOSE SHAVE

This is not the first time a lottery player has narrowly missed out on the jackpot prize.

A player in Washington state came close to pocketing a whopping $358 million.

The individual missed out on becoming a multi-millionaire earlier this month but still went home with the hefty sum of $1 million.

Another player in San Francisco was also just one number short of winning $154 million.

The winning ticket was purchased in a supermarket last month and the individual ended up with a prize of almost $1 million.

Top lottery winners in the US

Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.

• Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
• Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
• Unknown winner – $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
• Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
• Unknown winner – $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
• Unknown winner – he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
• Unknown winner – $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
• Cheng and Duanpen Saephan , and Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
• Yanira Alvarez – $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
• Wolverine FLL Lottery Club – $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan.
• Unknown winner – $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan.

In May, a South Carolina Powerball player was one number short of winning $1 billion.

“I was dumbstruck,” he said, after discovering he had still won the large sum of $1 million.

HOW TO PLAY

To win the Mega Millions jackpot, players must match all five white balls and the gold Mega ball.

The odds of winning the jackpot are one in over 300 million.

Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?

Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?

The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.

Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.

Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.

Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.

Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you’ll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.

Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.

Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity .

Tickets cost $2 and can be bought on the day of the drawing.

Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday evening.

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