Mega Millions warning as $1m prize remains unclaimed – but the winner is set to avoid the same fate as Edwin Castro

LOTTERY chiefs have warned a mystery millionaire to safeguard their prize-scooping ticket - to avoid the same pitfalls as Edwin Castro.

The Powerball mega-winner has been pictured dining with a close friend of the Kardashians, amid family scandals and a lawsuit.

An unknown Lottery player became one of three lucky winners to become an instant millionaire last month after buying a Mega Millions ticket, said Illinois Lottery.

The winning ticket was purchased for the July 26 drawing at Casey’s at 5965 Columbia Parkway in Rockford, Winnebago County. Rockford is located about 90 miles (145 km) northwest of Chicago in northern Illinois.

The unclaimed ticket matched all five numbers in the July 26 drawing to score the $1 million prize.

The winning numbers were 2-14-33-58-65.

Two other players also became instant millionaires in the same Mega Millions drawing, with the winners based in California and New Jersey.

California is famous for being a state where extra-lucky residents have claimed the largest U.S. jackpots in history.

One such winner is Edwin Castro, who claimed a record-breaking $2.04 billion Powerball prize in November, 2022.

Castro chose the lump sum of $997.6 million.

But, he has been surrounded by various dramas ever since his multi-million status became public.

Los Angeles gardener Jose Rivera is suing the former mechanic, and has alleged that he stole the winning ticket.

To prevent similar problems, Illinois Lottery has issued vital advice for winning ticket-holders, so they can avoid being sued over their prizemoney.

"[It] encourages all winners to write their name on the back of their ticket and keep it in a safe place until they’re ready to claim their prize," lottery bosses stressed.

The winner should sign the back of the ticket immediately, and store it somewhere secure, according to a lawyer's advice, per Forbes.

"A safe deposit box at a bank or a safe in your home are good choices," said John Jennings, of St. Louis Trust & Family Office, Clayton, Missouri.

"Check with your state’s lottery office about their deadlines and rules for claiming the jackpot, which you can do with an anonymous phone call."

Largest U.S. jackpots

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022 (one ticket, from California)

2. $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023 (one ticket, from California)

3. $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023 (one ticket, from Florida)

4. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (three tickets, from California, Florida, Tennessee)

5. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (one ticket, from South Carolina)

6. $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023 (one ticket, from Maine)

7. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022 (one ticket, from Illinois)

8. $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024 (one ticket, Oregon)

9. $1.13 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024 (one ticket, from New Jersey)

10. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023 (one ticket, from California)

Rivera, a gardener, claimed his former landlord, Urachi F. Romero, stole the ticket before it ended up in Castro's hands.

Rivera has claimed that he signed the back of the ticket, and alleged that Castro cashed in on the winnings. The Powerball winner's legal team has rejected the allegations.

Last month, The U.S. Sun revealed the first photographs of the lottery ticket taken by Castro, featuring greasy fingerprints from the former mechanic.

Rivera claimed he had signed the back of his ticket and written down the address of his sister's house in Pasadena.

"If you see carefully, there's my phone number, they erased it with some chemicals.

"I'm gonna tell my criminal attorney to take it to a lab so they can do a test and see what kind of chemicals they used.

"I know my name was on that ticket, and my phone number."

Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?

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

Rivera has pleaded not guilty in Pasadena after being accused of filing a false police complaint.

His case could be thrown out of court, and he faces a hefty fine and prison time if he's convicted of filing a false police complaint.

The claimant, whose full name is Jose Rivera Campos, passed a psychiatric evaluation in his criminal case some months ago and insisted, "I'm not crazy."

Meanwhile, Castro's cousins Jean Pierre Castro and his brother Byron Castro have been accused of selling sports cars on consignment and pocketing the cash.

The bad news has allegedly left the lottery winner and car enthusiast stunned.