Illinois couple claim $134 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot

Oct 25, 2016, 1:46 pm (14 comments)

Mega Millions

By Todd Northrop

TUSCOLA, Ill. — "The lottery has made our dreams come true!"

That's what the Illinois winner and his wife exclaimed Tuesday when they claimed a $134 million jackpot from the multi-state Mega Millions lottery game.

The winning couple, who claimed the prize in the name of the Elaine Francis Trust, beat the 1-in-259 million odds with a Quick Pick ticket in the Friday, September 16 Mega Millions drawing.

The winning numbers drawn that evening were 13, 21, 28, 34, and 40, with Mega Ball number 15.

The winners were born and raised in central Illinois and have lived in Tuscola for several years.  After discovering the win, they met with financial and legal advisers and made plans to retire early from their factory and health care industry jobs.

They said they will share the windfall with their families, and will help out in the Tuscola community and the communities where they grew up. They opted to take the prize as a one-time payment of $89,993,284 (before the required tax withholdings).

The winning ticket was purchased at Lambo's BP, 1000 E. Southline Road, in Tuscola.  The retailer will receive a bonus of $500,000 for selling the winning ticket. 

The $134 million jackpot is the fifth-largest lottery prize ever collected in the state of Illinois.

The Illinois Lottery respected the winners' request for minimal publicity by not publishing their names or the names of the towns where they grew up.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. Congrats!!!

LottoAce's avatarLottoAce

Quote: Originally posted by mypiemaster on Oct 25, 2016

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. Congrats!!!

my sentiments exactly.

Redd55

Sniff, that was MY jackpot! Sniff.   

They need to get out of Tuscola before they get kidnapped and robbed. 

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by LottoAce on Oct 25, 2016

my sentiments exactly.

Me too, glad they took the cash option given Illinois' history of not paying folks their lottery wins.  And a quick pick to boot.

Groppo's avatarGroppo

.

That's how you do it !   !   !
Congratulations to all those associate with the winners!

(I'm still waiting for my turn.)

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Quote: Originally posted by Redd55 on Oct 25, 2016

Sniff, that was MY jackpot! Sniff.   

They need to get out of Tuscola before they get kidnapped and robbed. 

It would have been your Jackpot if you picked those numbers.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Cheers

CONGRATS!

sully16's avatarsully16

Congrats to the lucky couple. enjoy.

ressuccess's avatarressuccess

Congratulations to this couple. This is the second straight Mega Millions Jackpot winning ticket in a row that is a California Super Lotto Plus pick.

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

Good for them. 

From the OP and this is news to me;

"The Illinois Lottery respected the winners' request for minimal publicity by not publishing their names or the names of the towns where they grew up."

Not exactly anonymous but better than nothing. Most wins are put on the monitors by the lottery sales counter and everyone in the state that plays lotto sees your name and picture. They used to show first and last names before Abraham Shakespeare got killed. 

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Oct 25, 2016

Good for them. 

From the OP and this is news to me;

"The Illinois Lottery respected the winners' request for minimal publicity by not publishing their names or the names of the towns where they grew up."

Not exactly anonymous but better than nothing. Most wins are put on the monitors by the lottery sales counter and everyone in the state that plays lotto sees your name and picture. They used to show first and last names before Abraham Shakespeare got killed. 

Congratulations to this lucky couple.   Abraham Shakespeare lives on when lottery organizations change for the better.

American Indian's avatarAmerican Indian

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Oct 26, 2016

Congratulations to this lucky couple.   Abraham Shakespeare lives on when lottery organizations change for the better.

AMEN TO THAT.............

American Indian's avatarAmerican Indian

Quote: Originally posted by Redd55 on Oct 25, 2016

Sniff, that was MY jackpot! Sniff.   

They need to get out of Tuscola before they get kidnapped and robbed. 

Before I read your comment about it being your money I had the very same thought! 

That's OK I'M WINNING TONIGHT!

Redd55

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Oct 25, 2016

Good for them. 

From the OP and this is news to me;

"The Illinois Lottery respected the winners' request for minimal publicity by not publishing their names or the names of the towns where they grew up."

Not exactly anonymous but better than nothing. Most wins are put on the monitors by the lottery sales counter and everyone in the state that plays lotto sees your name and picture. They used to show first and last names before Abraham Shakespeare got killed. 

In my state, the names are on the screen monitors for years.  Now, I under state the laws that say they have to make the names of the winners public.  But when they put the names on the screens and do so for as long as they want, then they are using your name for advertising. That is contrary to the rational behind publishing the names and I would object to it. 

End of comments
Subscribe to this news story