More than four months after making his or her fateful lottery ticket purchase, the winner of the $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot has stepped forward — but will remain anonymous, the South Carolina Education Lottery Commission announced.
The winner of the largest jackpot in U.S. history has opted for up-front cash — a one-time payment of $877,784,124, the commission announced shortly before 5 p.m. Monday.
According to a statement from the commission, the winner confided in how unlikely the win was — that he (or she) had let a fellow customer buy a Quick Pick Mega Millions lottery ticket ahead of him in line the day he made his own lottery ticket purchase at the KC Mart in Simpsonville.
"We are delighted that the winner is a South Carolinian and has come forward to claim this remarkable prize," said Hogan Brown, the lottery commission's executive director. "We respect the winner's decision to remain anonymous, and we will honor the winner's wishes."
KC Mart in Simpsonville will receive $50,000 for selling the claimed winning ticket.
The state of South Carolina, meanwhile, will collect $61 million in income taxes from the winner, according to the commission.
The winner has hired attorney Jason Kurland of Rivkin Radler of New York, who will provide legal representation while also acting as the winner's spokesman, according to the commission.
Kurland has represented multiple large lottery winners, according to his firm's website, including the Putnam Avenue Family Trust, winner of a $254.2 million Connecticut Powerball lottery; the Rainbow Sherbert Trust, winner of a $336.4 million Rhode Island Powerball jackpot; and The Ning Trust, winner of a $121.6 million Powerball jackpot in Delaware two years ago.
Kurland could not be reached for comment Monday evening.
Once the South Carolina winner has been paid, a news conference will take place at the S.C. lottery commission's headquarters in Columbia.
The ticket's initial purchase took place Oct. 24, 2018, and the winner had 180 days to step forward.
He — or she — waited 131, prompting intense speculation on social media about what the winner might be up to over the past four months. Was the ticket lost? Did the winner not know he had bought the winning ticket? Had a minor purchased it?
According to a recent report, had the winner deposited the $878 million lump sum into a 2-percent interest savings account on day one, they would have collected $5.8 million in interest alone by now.
Congratulations to the winner!!! Enjoy it!!!
Finally! That attorney Jason Kurland has a reputation for being savvy. Took that attorney for the Robinson’s to task for showing up on GMA & exposing the winners on national television. Called it irresponsible and
. On a side note: l was correct, 
the winner didn’t CARE about the interest they lost on the millions. Now, to parlay that forethought into choosing the winning PB numbers.
well part of the mystery is at long last over, may s/he/they be that happy and put the money to good use
Only thing I'd like to know is how old the individual is just for curiosity.
one can only wonder and no doubt some grandkids will be splurging soon enough on silly things they don't need
Congrats to the winner.I am happy they claimed.It would be crazy that money would go back to the States and the store owner not getting paid his $50k.
I hope the winner stays anonymous but when that money hits the bank ,watch out for chatty tellers.
Congrats to the lucky winner/winners.
$877.8 million American dollars! I agree that hiring Jason Kurland was the correct way. About, chatty tellers, Jason Kurland may help the winner with this problem too. Proceed past the teller to a bank manager. Maybe even to the bank President!
Power Ball is our next target LP Members
Congratulations!!! I like it that the attorney is not returning calls. There will be a press conference with the attorney AFTER the money is paid. That counsel is in control. I really wonder if the winner had children and had to buy another home out of the area and sell the old home. So the children would be settled in a new school once the jp was claimed. This would have kept a family off the nosy body radar.
Congratulations! I just hope the winner(s) can see the opportunity they have and see how many jobs that they can create, industries they can support and businesses they can create while still buying that $15mil mansion, vacations around the world (be careful where you go....) the $2500 dresses and jewelry/watches/cars you buy. I hope they don't spend it willy-nilly. Waste it on $500.000 sportscars you can never really drive. Or heavens forbid going to Los Vegas to gamble.
Whewwwwwww, that was getting a little close, time wise... Congrats to that individual and it was very savy of her/him to have Atty Kurland as a legal representative/spokesman.
Glad I was wrong thinking the ticket was lost. I hope they have wonderful life and bring much joy into others.
The only question unanswered is "why did they wait so long?".