Florida Mega Millions Ticket Holder Wins Life-Changing $800 Million Jackpot: ‘A Dream Come True’ – AOL

NEED TO KNOW

• A Florida ticket holder won the $800 million Mega Millions Jackpot on Tuesday, July 28, which is the 10th largest in the game’s history

• The state has now won or shared six Mega Millions Jackpots since joining the game in 2013

• Two second-tier $8 million prizes were won in New York and Illinois during the same drawing

A lucky Florida resident has won a life-changing Mega Millions Jackpot.

The Tuesday, July 28 drawing produced a single winning ticket of an estimated $800 million — which has an estimated $344.2 million cash value — in one of lottery’s biggest jackpots in history, the Florida Lottery announced in a news release.

The winner, who has not yet been identified, matched the white ball numbers 34, 48, 49, 59 and 70, as well as the gold Mega Ball 12. The winning ticket was sold at the Wawa, located at 14510 State Road 70 East in the city of Bradenton.

This marks the third Mega Millions jackpot win of the year and the 10th largest jackpot in the game’s history. 

Florida Lottery Secretary, Reginald Dixon, said of the big win, “We are thrilled to congratulate Florida’s newest Mega Millions jackpot winner on this incredible, life-changing moment,” per the release.

“This win is an exciting reminder that every ticket carries the possibility of a dream come true,” Dixon added. “We are especially grateful to our valued Florida Lottery players, whose continued support helps generate funding for education across our state. Every ticket purchased contributes to creating brighter futures for Florida’s students.”

“Florida also holds the game’s record jackpot of $1,602 billion, won almost exactly three years ago on August 8, 2023. Since joining the game in 2013, Florida has now won or shared a total of six Mega Millions jackpots,” a Mega Millions release stated.

There were 645,993 winning tickets at all prize levels included in the latest draw, plus the jackpot-winning ticket. Two tickets sold in New York and Illinois matched all five white balls, winning the game’s second-tier prize. Both tickets are worth $8 million altogether, per the release.

A total of 15 tickets matched four white balls plus the Mega Ball. 

“Fifteen tickets matched four white balls plus the Mega Ball to win the game’s third-tier prize: seven at $20,000 (two in Florida and one each in California, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Washington and Wisconsin); five at $30,000 (Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New Jersey and Washington); two at $40,000 (New York and Wisconsin); and one at $50,000 (New Jersey),” the release stated.

The Mega Millions Jackpot increased to a historic $800 million this week after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn on Friday, July 24, PEOPLE previously reported.

The Powerball Jackpot also increased to $663 million, with a cash prize of $290.4 million, after there were no winners during the draw on Monday, July 27, per the Multi-State Lottery Association.

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The Mega Millions released stated, “Over the 38 drawings since the jackpot was last won in Ohio on March 17, there were nearly 10.9 million winning tickets sold and total non-jackpot prizes of more than $273 million.”

“They included 18 second-tier prizes ranging from $2 million to $5 million, won in 10 different states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania,” lottery officials added.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem, please contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network at 1-800-522-4700 or go to gamtalk.org.

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