By Todd Northrop
One winning ticket sold in Illinois beat the odds and matched all the numbers drawn in Friday's Mega Millions drawing to win a massive $393 million jackpot.
The numbers that single lottery ticket from Illinois matched in Friday's drawing were 23, 33, 53, 56, and 58, with Mega Ball number 6. The Megaplier was 5.
The winning ticket was purchased at Nick's Barbecue in Palos Heights.
The lucky ticket holder will be the sole recipient of the fifth-largest Mega Millions jackpot in history, and the 17th-biggest prize in U.S. lottery history.
But perhaps even more important is the lump-sum cash option of $247 million, since most big winners claim the up-front cash rather than the annuity amount paid in 30 annual installments.
This is the fourth Mega Millions jackpot won this year. It had been rolling since it was last won on April 28, when David Trapp won a $61 million prize in California. Two other jackpots have also been awarded this year: $191 million to Jack Freney, also in California, and $177 million to Texan Eliberto Cantu with a ticket he purchased in Arkansas.
Besides Friday night's Mega Millions jackpot winner another 3 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a second-prize win: 1 from California, 1 from Ohio, and 1 from Washington.
Each of the three second-prize winners will receive a different amount:
- The California second-prize winner will receive $550,731, due to California's lottery laws that require all prizes to be paid on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning the prizes will change each drawing based on the number of tickets sold and the number of tickets that won at each prize level.
- The Ohio second-prize winner will receive the normal $1 million payout.
- The Washington second-prize winner will receive $5 million, because that player purchased their lottery ticket with the Megaplier option for an extra $1 per play, and because the 5x Megaplier was drawn last night, their prize was multiplied five times.
The Megaplier option is not available in California, because the fixed nature of the prize increase offered with the Megaplier is not compatible with California's pari-mutuel payouts.
Another 95 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $5,000 prize. Of those tickets, 10 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $25,000, and 9 were sold in California, where the prize was worth $9,214 this drawing.
The $393 million jackpot started building from its $15 million starting point on May 2. The 30 drawings since then produced more than 51.6 million winning tickets across all prize levels, including the one jackpot winner and 54 second-tier prizes of $1 million or more.
Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 44 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. Tickets cost $1 each.
The Mega Millions winning numbers are published at USA Mega (www.usamega.com) minutes after the drawing takes place.
Congrats to the winner/s!!!
"The California second-prize winner will receive $550,731, due to California's lottery laws that require all prizes to be paid on a pari-mutuel basis,"
"The Ohio second-prize winner will receive the normal $1 million payout"
Pari-mutuel is horrible. I've seen second prize in CA be at 500K or less so many times. Sure the second prize is over a million sometimes but it is rare.
Congratulations to the winner!!!! $247,000,000. lump sum option- WOW! I hope it was a pool of players
Ditto that. Better hurry up and claim the money in Illinois.
Todd and LP staff: Does Nick's Ribs get any kind of bonus for selling the winning MM ticket? Many states do just that; too early on IL website to read their version. Thank you.
Last Tues, someone want the 5/5 for a total of $1,060,689. Normally, it restarts at $85-100k. But b/c of the large jackpot, the Friday 5/5 pot shot up to $550k. So, it could have been worse. But, I agree, pari-mutuel is a rip off.
They said the winning ticket for mega millions was sold in palos heights illinios. Close to Chicago. A barbecue place. I think the winner is black. Only a black guy can be in this right place smelling a barbecue and hitting the jackpot lol
Some good barbecue AND a winning MM ticket--that's definitely a win-win.
Retailer in Illinois get 1% for selling winning ticket. Not sure if there is a cut off point on big game jackpots
Either way I am sure Nick's Ribs owner is happy with result
I didn't get a single # on any of the Mega draws recently
Possible but that area is like 90%+ White
Asians and Middle Eastern people make up majority of rest
I was listening to their news reporter. Awesome and congrats to that winning ticket holder(s). It's better than when the record powerball whoever won in CA and they had a parade lol. Awesome to the store owner. Something positive this time. Awesome.
I just hope the state can pay. I had to go to 4 different stores just to cash in a $330 Pick 3 win.
Talk about a potential "what if" - what if Illinois still wasn't taking MM and PB bets and this ticket wasn't a quick pick (i.e. the winner chose their numbers on their own). If (s)he had been playing those numbers for years I wonder how'd they react if they couldn't have played those numbers (i.e. no opportunity to play in a neighboring state for whatever reason).
Why is it that referencing the skin color of a person? Seriously.
Wonder if Todd can report on how the Mega million funds are allocated to the winning states on the jackpot payout. Is there a centralized bank account that each participating state deposit into? why do some states take so long to pay out? Minus the "Background check", I find it boggling that in this electronic age where a deposit can be done all in the same day, that it can take 6- 8 weeks. Then there is the two week trickle affect when large sums are deposited. They release only a certain amount at a time.....
On topic : Sincerely pleased that a holder is now richer in luck and prosperity! Usually when one jackpot goes off the next is soon to follow...So get your PB Tickets so that when I collect, I can thank you for contributing
It takes only one percent black to smell a good barbecue 50miles from Chicago. Is there a bicycle route that makes the odds higher lol
I wonder if they will get their money LOL!
I wonder if they'll find a less corrupt state to move to
I keep checking to see if there is a bump in the PB jackpot amount tonight. So far, no, but keeping my fingers crossed.
Why cause controversy with the Race Card!
I agree. Skin color kas nothing to do with nothinng. Money is green, thats what shold be the only focus. But, I do understand that there are those whose lives revolve around skin color. Whatever.
Indeed. I'm mystified as to why though. Especially, since sales were so far above normal. Doesn't make sense. In my view, California intentionally short-changes players by routinely allocating proportionately, less funds than they should for the 2nd tier prize. Seems penny wise, and pound foolish...
Though, I suppose California can get away with it due to having, so to speak, a captive audience. Bordering state of Nevada doesn't offer any lottery; no Mega Millions nor Powerball. Nearest lottery alternatives are Oregon and Arizona.
Me too and considering all the problems Illinois players had collecting their winnings, this winner better take the cash option.
The 5/5 was previously won on Tues. Normally it starts again at $85k. This time it was $550k. So, yes, the above norm sales drove the size of the pot up and has been since the MM went into frenzy mode.
Yes, I hope that Illinois pays the winner! But we will see when the winner tries to collect if there is some hemming and hawing from the state. How horrible would that be?!
If they tried to pull that they would be suspended again by the musl
I did see that.
But, in any event, whoever won congratulations.I am happy for the 1 single winner.
Wish more won but it's never like that, should be imo.
Congrats.
I hope so, as i recall they were about to get rid of the PB and MM
Happy for the singular winner in IL.
Pay the winner, end of story.
Oh, puleez! Somebody made a joke about BBQ. It was not that long ago that to get any BBQ, not just good BBQ, you had to go into the black areas of town. It still holds true today except in TX where BBQ vendors are more diverse.
Peace!
Illinois will win Powerball tonight too, I'm thinking about running over there and buying tickets.
Good question. Based on a recent story I wrote about a $134 million Mega Millions winner from Illinois, I would say the BBQ place gets a cool $500,000!
https://www.lotterypost.com/news/307835
That's a lot of cole slaw!
I like cole slaw on a pulled pork sandwich or even brisket sandwich myself.-weshar75
all i have to say congrats to the winner or winners you must be doing something right for god to bless u that way what ever it is keep doing it.
Me too! Although in my case, it is a veggie burger.
Retailer bonus amount varies widely. Some lotteries pay little to no bonus while others pay upwards of $1 million for very large jackpot wins. PA Lottery seems to be in the lower to mid range at $100,000 retailer payout for MM / PB jackpot wins.
If you're able, please consider doing an article on retailer bonuses, and how and why they vary so much. Thanks!
Hardly. Here's one of many in the Midwest and South where BBQ is a denomination.
When Bill Clinton visited this area it was actually to go to this place;
http://17bbq.com/
And I bought my sorry @$$ losing ticket in Saint Louis to avoid buying it in Illinois, I hear Illinois doesn't pay.
Lucky number for the day
The question that I and many other inquiring minds want answered is this:
Was the winning combination a quick pick or was it a combination that the winner picked him or herself?
Kosh
It was a quick pick. Some regular customers said they didn't even know that the place sold lottery tickets.
Your lossing tickets in St Louis may actually be worth more than a winning ticket in Illinois ?? ever watch that Geico commercial that is what happens when you try to cash your Illinois winning ticket Good luck
I hope and pray that whoever Won the mega millions
really needed it and if they sorta alright financially.
I pray that they will use it in a positive way and that's spoke
about their heart, soul, and humanity. As MJ says " make that Change".
Amen
I'm curious too?
Yeah! retailers are getting pathetic with NOT having available funds.
Congratulations Illinois
Smaller stores are not going to keep a lot of cash around. Just common sense, they don't want to be targeted for robbery. I buy my tix at a small c-store, but if it's a win of more than $100, I just go to the grocery store to cash it in. They always have enough cash, but are so busy with customers that being robbed is unlikely.
That's how it is here too. I live in a small rural area but the drug epidemic is rampant here and all those places are a target.
That's the fourth Mega Millions jackpot winning ticket in the year 2017! I hope the winner steps forward to take the cash value option or the lump sum.
Thanks for the answer.
Kosh
Congratulation to winners