Mega Millions players urged to check numbers as $2m prize remains unclaimed – ticket was sold at convenience store

A LUCKY lottery player has won over $2 million after purchasing a ticket from a convenience store, but the winner has yet to come forward.

The winning ticket was bought in Northeast Ohio for the Mega Millions drawing on Friday.

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The lucky player matched five of the six numbers after purchasing their ticket at Mickey Mart, local Fox affiliate WJW reported.

The store was located in North Ridgeville, about two hours from Columbus, Ohio.

The Mega Millions player won a whopping $2 million. They purchased the Megaplier with their ticket, doubling their $1 million winnings.

Lottery officials have urged Americans to check their tickets to see if the prize money could be theirs.

The winning numbers in Friday night’s drawing were 6, 23, 41, 59, and 63, and the Mega Ball was 25.

No one was lucky enough to claim the $740 million jackpot.

It has now increased to an estimated $800 million for the next drawing on Tuesday night.

If a player is fortunate enough to win this jackpot, they will have a cash option of $401.8 million.

Officials confirmed that there were over 249,000 other winning tickets drawn on Friday.

And the prizes ranged from just $2 to $10,931.

The lottery game is played in 45 states and the District of Columbia.

HOW TO PLAY

The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot is 1 in over 302 million.

Mega Millions drawings are held on Tuesday and Friday evenings every week.

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

Players must match all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball to win the Mega Millions jackpot.

If a player is lucky enough to win, they can claim their winnings as a lump sum or as an annuity.

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.

The lump sum option means the player will receive a one-time payment.

If the winner chooses an annuity, they will receive an immediate and 29 annual payments.

And this Ohio player is not the only winner who has yet to come forward and claim their winnings.

An Illinois player who purchased a ticket at a gas station this summer won a whopping $1 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 .

The ticket was purchased for the July 24 drawing, and lottery officials have urged players to check their tickets.

Meanwhile, a Powerball and a Mega Millions player won a combined $2.1 million in California last month.

And two other multi-million winning tickets were purchased in Kansas and Michigan last week.

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