RED BUD, Ill. — The final winner of the record $656 million Mega Millions jackpot will accept a check for $218.6 million on Wednesday in the southern Illinois town of Red Bud where the winning ticket was purchased, the Illinois Lottery said Monday.
The single winner is from Illinois, lottery officials said, but would not reveal any other details. The other two winning tickets already have been anonymously claimed in Maryland and Kansas. Around Red Bud word that the winner would soon be revealed left the town buzzing.
"We'll finally get to see who this person is," Red Bud Mayor Tim Lowry said. "At least the name will be out there, and Red Bud still gets notice in the history books that the winner came from here. It is exciting."
The winning ticket was purchased at the MotoMart convenience store on Main Street in Red Bud, a tiny farming community of about 3,700 residents south of St. Louis. The winner will accept the check at Red Bud Village Hall.
Maryland and Kansas allow lottery winners to claim their prizes anonymously, but Illinois generally requires winners to come forward publicly. Illinois Lottery officials say that helps prove the lottery is paying out its prizes.
The jackpot in the March 30 drawing was the biggest in Mega Millions history.
"We are thrilled to announce that a single claimant has come forward and been confirmed as the official Illinois winner of the world record setting MegaMillion's Jackpot," Illinois Lottery officials said in an email.
Lorraine Liefer, a longtime Red Bud resident, wondered if the soon-to-be-revealed winner even calls Red Bud home, given the town's status as an oasis along well-traveled Illinois Route 3.
"This brings in a lot of headaches for that person," she said. "But I don't know. It's very exciting. There's no one in Red Bud who has any kind of money like that. I think we'll just have to wait and see, I'm afraid."
Take the entire town out for a party.
This person or person(s) will sure have many new friends. Time to move out of Red Bud and move to Beverly. Hills that is.
"This brings in a lot of headaches for that person," she said.
I think the winner should be able to scrape up enough cash to purchase some aspirin
Tomorrow will be great!
The Illinois winner will be revealed & the Pennsylvania Winner will be set to get a wire transfer of $61,050,000 after the Powerball Drawing!
Congrats to the winner! The next big drawing is just right around the corner.
I've often wondered if there as any real 'wisdom' in throwing a party after a jackpot win, since a lot of people attending think they are going to be given a cut of the prize.
That's just the way it is.
The only "party" will be for my household!
Sharing will be on my terms ..... as it should be in the USA ........... certainly not on the terms of the "Progressive" Regime currently in power!
I can't wait to move to a "Red State" .......
Kindly remember that one of our advantages in 1776 was that we had rifles and the Brits had muskets! And today we are free!
congrat's again to the Ill. winner. Since there is no way you can claim this prize anonymously in Ill. your picture is about to be spreaded all over the USA.
Congrats to the winner.
Such a positive attitude! I sure hope your big payday comes in the near future
She better move out of red bud now because she will have so many people at her door she will not be able to sleep
The town isn't but so big so anyone will be able to find her their I would have already made a move.
Moving your family to an affluent, guard gated private community should be a top priority otherwise be prepared to be hounded relentlessly.
Depends on who's throwing the party. It doesn't have to be the jackpot winner, after all people don't always throw their own birthday parties and guests don't expect a gift, they usually bring one.
Thank you ............ you are most kind!
I have to remain positive in the face of adversity.
Best wishes to you also!
Congratulations to the winner,whatever the sex is.
Wisdom from Jill34786
is it wise to call a head to set a date to come foward to the lottery people? does this give the lottery officals enough time to bring out the paper work and go through the security procedures?
Throwing a party for strangers is the last thing one should do. You have to start thinking about lawsuits. If someone drives out of there all shimmed up and kills someone, they are going to go after the deepest pockets. I wouldn't even attend a party thrown by strangers.
The winner better have his/her bags packed and take off for awhile ....this
person will NOT get any peace and quiet . Illinois should of been
anonymous too . When , I win , I will NOT be giving any parties ,
I would be long gone . lol ... after watching a video of the lottery,
it changed everything . I'll have to be strict with my "do's / don'ts " .
Jill (above ) is right ......Gated community..........
Does Illinois require the dog & pony show with the media?Can the winner have his/her lawyer pick up the check for them,as long as the lawyer reveals the winners name and hometown?
Congrats to the winner/s
Though the article doesn't indicate [darn!!!], it is probable that the Illinois ticket purchased jackpot winner previously took either their, original lottery ticket or validation ticket, with Claim Form to the Illinois Lottery Headquarters for the 2 weeks or so of processing and financial background checks required.
Consequently, it is probable that the winner's presence later today is simply their last 'hoops to jump through' for the Illinois Lottery Headquarters jackpot monies receival requirements. I would think that, within a couple of days later, all of the lump-sum monies will appear in this winner's financial account electronically. Finally, I am looking at the back of my Illinois Mega Millions Lottery Ticket which still reads: "Holder of this ticket agrees to interviews with lottery public relations personnel and the news media, and grants permission to use his/her name and likeness in lottery advertising."
Congratulations to this MM jackpot winner, from Illinois purchased ticket! It would be very interesting if this 1/3 jackpot winner is a solo person, without any close family and/or dependents.
Though I don't know if winner(s) resides in Illinois, I did notice that it has been JUST over two years since an Illinois sold MM ticket has won a jackpot either fully or partially (last jackpot won was solely at $20M and requested receival at lesser 'lump sum' amount).
Got to love the lotto. People spending hundreds of dollars and he hits on a 3$ quickpick.
Thank God, an old couple won this amount of money.
dpoly1,
Excellent chopice of weapons but with a jackpot I'd have to buy one or two dozen Thompson's, just for old time sake. Also probably several Viet Nam era M203s (M16 / M79 over/ under, "Say hello to my little friend"). also osme Uzis, I was a poor shot in the Army but we fired those things and voila, 10 out of 10 bullseye or close at 50 meters, every time.
jill34786,
What about being hounded relentlessly by those inside the gated private commuity?
Coin Toss, I mentioned affluent guard gated community. Most of your neighbors are well off and will respect your privacy. I live in such a neighborhood where many CEO's, professional atheletes and celebreties reside. There has never been any issues within the community and the media is always kept at bay by our security team.
Several years ago a Florida lotto winner purchased a home here and relocated his entire family. Last I heard they are doing just fine.
Even Realtors must have approval from the front office prior to being admitted and we all know that is usually the easiest way to gain entry into most private communities. A few years ago, the wife of a sport superstar was denied entry because she did not contact anyone at the office and/or country club.
The HOA at some of these exclusive communities may be expensive and prohibive to most but I feel it's well worth it in our case.
Jill34786,
Good for you then, and for such places.
That's funny about the sport stars' wife.
On local news tonight the couple said they had lived in Red Bud their whole lives (pop. 3700) and wil stay there.
I doubt Red Bud has such a gated community but maybe they will build one!
Coint Toss,
Their Red Bud friends and neighbors are probably the least of their concerns. It's the few visitors who have decided to temporarily extend their stay that they should be worried about.
If I were them, I would be extremely cautious about any new acquaintances that may cross their path no matter how innocent or friendly they appear.
Building a gated compound within Red Bud may seem like an option but this couple doesn't strike me as being excessive. Their modest home which has fared well their "previous" life may not provide the level of privacy and comfort that their new chapter on life will demand.
This new found wealth is life changing and assuming your lifestyle will not be affected is just denial. I do hope the support group they have retained will properly guide them going forward.