Updated with final jackpot amount and retailer location
By Todd Northrop
After a run of 29 drawings without a jackpot winner, the 30th drawing of the multi-state Mega Millions game produced a single $1.337 billion winner last night when one lottery ticket sold in Illinois matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball.
It was the fourth time a lottery jackpot had grown to more than $1 billion, and the third time a single ticket won $1 billion or more.
The winner of the unimaginable haul will choose between being paid $1.337 billion in 30 annually-increasing payments over 29 years or the lump-sum cash value of $780.5 million.
According to USA Mega's Mega Millions Jackpot Analysis, after all taxes are paid, the winner either will receive $777.2 million by the end of 29 years, or $453.1 million in cash all at once.
The winning ticket was sold at Speedway #4250, located at 885 E. Touhy Ave. in Des Plaines. The lottery retailer will receive a $500,000 commission for selling the winning ticket.
"Congratulations to the Illinois Lottery for selling the winning ticket for the $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot," said Ohio Lottery Director Pat McDonald, currently serving as Lead Director for the Mega Millions Consortium. "We are thrilled to have witnessed one of the biggest jackpot wins in Mega Millions history. We're eager to find out who won and look forward to congratulating the winner soon! Better still, this exciting jackpot run has had a significant positive impact on the revenues for good causes raised by our member lotteries."
Illinois was one of the original founding members of Mega Millions, which was called The Big Game at the time.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, July 29, 2022, were 13, 36, 45, 57, and 67, with Mega Ball number 14. The Megaplier was 2.
It's hard to imagine the winner getting much sleep Friday night, as they try to process winning such an unimaginably huge lottery jackpot awarded to a single ticket — the one they're holding in their hand.
Millions of lottery players in the USA and around the world are wondering what they are planning to do with all that loot.
What is the first thing you would do?
It is unlikely we'll ever know the identity of the winner, because Illinois allows lottery winners to remain anonymous. In 2018, legislation was signed into law allowing winners of lottery prizes $250,000 or more to remain anonymous. The Illinois Lottery Winner's Handbook summarizes the procedure and limitations of anonymity as follows: "If your prize is $250,000 or more, at the time of claiming the prize, you may submit a written request on the Illinois Lottery Claim form to keep your name and city of residence confidential from public disclosure. However, the Illinois Lottery may release your name and city of residence pursuant to an Illinois Freedom of Information Act request or if legally mandated to do so."
Lottery Post maintains a list of every state's anonymity policies for lottery winners.
Fortunately, even if you didn't win the jackpot, the Mega Millions game still offers another 8 ways to win lower-tier prizes.
In addition to the jackpot winner, a whopping 26 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Arkansas (with Megaplier), 1 from California, 5 from Florida (3 with Megaplier), 2 from Georgia, 1 from Iowa (with Megaplier), 1 from Illinois, 1 from Kentucky, 1 from Louisiana, 1 from Michigan, 2 from Minnesota, 2 from North Carolina, 1 from New Hampshire, 1 from New York, 1 from Oklahoma, 2 from Pennsylvania (1 with Megaplier), 2 from Texas, and 1 from Wisconsin.
The second prize-winning tickets that were purchased with the Megaplier option for an extra $1 are now worth $2 million after being multiplied by the Megaplier number of 2. The California second prize winner will claim a prize of $4,234,962 because unlike all the other Mega Millions states, California awards all prizes 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.
375 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Mega Ball and won $10,000. Of those tickets, 68 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $20,000, and 64 were sold in California, where the prize was $9,167 this drawing.
In total, nearly 14.4 million tickets won prizes across the game's nine prize tiers in Friday's drawing. Apart from the jackpot, there were more than $102 million in prizes awarded last night.
A complete list of payouts for all prizes and the official drawing video can be found at USA Mega's Mega Millions Drawing Information page, as well as at Lottery Post's Mega Millions Prize Payouts page.
The still record-holder for the world's largest lottery jackpot was a $1.5864 billion Powerball jackpot in Jan. 2016, split three-ways by ticket-holders in California, Florida, and Tennessee.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.6 million.
Had no one matched all of the numbers drawn lottery officials said the next jackpot would have reached $1.7 billion.
With the jackpot being won Friday, the next Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate is reset to its starting point of $20 million.
Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. Tickets cost $2 each.
The Mega Millions winning numbers are published at USA Mega (www.usamega.com) minutes after the drawing takes place.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Friday's $1.28 billion Mega Millions jackpot stands as the third-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States — and the world.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 (19 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $1.337 billion, Jul. 29, 2022 (29 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021 (36 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
- Powerball: $768.4 million, Mar. 27, 2019 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Wisconsin
- Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $731.1 million, Jan. 20, 2021 (35 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maryland
- Powerball: $699.8 million, Oct. 4, 2021 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Powerball: $687.8 million, Oct. 27, 2018 (21 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Iowa, New York
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 (18 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013 (21 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $632.6 million, Jan 5, 2022 (39 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California, Wisconsin
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 (13 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 (15 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Powerball: $559.7 million, Jan. 6, 2018 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $543 million, Jul. 24, 2018 (22 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 (34 rollovers, starting at $15 million) - Indiana
- Mega Millions: $533 million, Mar. 30, 2018 (23 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $522 million, Jun. 7, 2019 (24 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $516 million, May 21, 2021 (26 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Pennsylvania
- Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 (23 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $473.1 million, Apr. 27, 2022 (30 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Arizona
- Powerball: $456.7 million, Mar. 17, 2018 (19 rollovers, starting at $15 million) - Pennsylvania
- Mega Millions: $451 million, Jan. 5, 2018 (23 rollovers, starting at $15 million) - Florida
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 14
- Mega Millions: 11
Top 25 cash value jackpots
The Friday Mega Millions jackpot ranks as the 4th-largest cash value in world history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $877.8 million cash, Oct. 23, 2018 ($1.537 billion annuity) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $780.5 million cash, Jul. 29, 2022 ($1.337 billion annuity) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $776.6 million cash, Jan. 22, 2021 ($1.05 billion annuity) - Michigan
- Powerball: $546.8 million cash, Jan. 20, 2021 ($731.1 million annuity) - Maryland
- Powerball: $496 million cash, Oct. 4, 2021 ($699.8 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $477 million cash, Mar. 27, 2019 ($768.4 million annuity) - Wisconsin
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $450.2 million cash, Jan. 5, 2022 ($632.6 million annuity) - California, Wisconsin
- Powerball: $396.2 million cash, Oct. 27, 2018 ($687.8 million annuity) - Iowa, New York
- Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Mega Millions: $378 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($536 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $352 million cash, Jan. 6, 2018 ($559.7 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $349.3 million cash, May 21, 2021 ($516 million annuity) - Pennsylvania
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($648 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $341.7 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $340 million cash, Jun. 7, 2019 ($522 million annuity) - California
- Mega Millions: $324 million cash, Mar. 30, 2018 ($533 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $320.5 million cash, Jul. 24, 2018 ($543 million annuity) - California
- Mega Millions: $319.9 million cash, Jun. 9, 2020 ($414 million annuity) - Arizona
- Mega Millions: $314.4 million cash, Sep. 21, 2021 ($431 million annuity) - New York
- Mega Millions: $292.9 million cash, Jan. 28, 2022 ($426 million annuity) - California
The number of cash value jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 12
- Mega Millions: 13
Congrats to the winners.
Interesting, Illinois. Glad this hype is over.
Will we know where it was sold at least? When does that info go public?
probably a quick pick but they don't want to lose control of it so don't tell us what the winner did,quick pick or own numbers which i doubt.i bought all megaball numbers quick picks and won 8 bucks.
well thats the way it goes and to those who woke up with a severe lottery hangover this morning
Well it didn't win anything on this one. Guess I'll just have to settle for the powerball win tonight! I'll be good with that.
Powerball better do some catching up. It's starting to get crushed by Mega Millions in the billion dollar jackpot count.
SPEEDWAY #4250,885 E TOUHY AVE, DES PLAINES, IL,60018 <--------- sold winning ticket
too funny
one person won in illinois.
https://www.megamillions.com/News/2022/Summer-Splendor-%E2%80%93-Mega-Millions%C2%AE-Jackpot-Won-in-Il.aspxhttps://www.megamillions.com/News/2022/Summer-Splendor-%E2%80%93-Mega-Millions%C2%AE-Jackpot-Won-in-Il.aspx
Billion dollar jackpots are fun. Now back to 20 million 😞.
That's a total joke 1 winner !
Lottery made a mint off that
Said a few days ago only be 1 winner
I would say that the Feds and the state of Illinois made a pretty penny in tax revenue.....
There were several 2nd place prizes handed out from what I see on the MM homepage...
Congrats to the lucky ticket purchaser.... Enjoy your newly acquired wealth
Exactly why I keep screaming that lottery winnings should never be taxed, ordinary income or not. Go to USAMEGA, pull up jackpot analysis for your state, and you get sick to your stomach. I prefer WINNER TAKE ALL. They can impact more ordinary lives with the win than the government.
It is what it is. I do agree with you in one sense. Not only lottery, the e-commerce sites too. I feel what people need to do is a spreadsheet and expenses. Reasons being when you need a lawyer, accountant and financial planner.
I don't get it when they say someone might take the annuity. I see different ways but it depends on the persons lifestyle.
Back to reality without being the winner. <snip>
I didn't win either and I'm too busy trying to get the hayfield knocked down b4 the next set of showers
but thars the PB for tonight and I got my ticket for it
while it might not be as exciting as last night's MM, I'll make it do LOL
Let's move on to PB since it grows quicker, may take 6 weeks to get a billion
Congrats to the winners!!!
ahhh yes! how true, glad it is over, i never buy INTO such hype, rarely.
SO HAPPY i wisely did NOT go all out, NEVER with as dad call it rip off, lol
when only 1 person win,
rather than a fair chance,
where there should be when OVER 100 MILLION,
several dozens of people per state.
Ridiculous.
But, i am glad some 1 won.
wisely, i put the "additional 15"back in my jean pocket, only bough 2 tickets, last minute.
Going to just stick with my favie pick 4 to win
my $ Thousands every 1 or few months." Do well with that game, for years."
I hope you ALL win something, this August coming up, and good luck, bye now."
lol
yup, exactly why i only bought 1, then added on one more, for mom few bucks, no big loss,
i'll rather smile at winning often playing my CALIFORNIA, and pas five years (NC) soon in PA/NJ/DE Pick 4 $$$ when i move,
(much thousands)by playing pick 4, (do real well)at this one, sure do.
so, odds are great for me anyhow,
and i'd rather smile, then to lose, lol so i will stick with that.
Good luck on whatever Games you're playing, Drop. Bye now.
Surprised no one commented on the fine print. Illinois law says if you win over $250K you can remain anonymous BUT if FOIA is used, they are legally bound to tell the name and city of the person. Darned if you do, darned if you don't. Reading that it would make me get a trust Attorney to cash it in.
Like others, would love to know if it was a QP or not.
If we didn't have that crappy RNG here I'd play both the store # and the address on Pick 4/pick 3 respectively!
" Someone in iIlinois is jumping for....
the lottery needs to spread the wealth and pull more than one winning set of numbers when it get that high
One winning ticket.....but wonder if it was a group play?
Anyway, Congrats to the winner!
What they should do is draw one additional set of numbers each draw. So draw 2 would be 2 sets of potential winners, draw 3 3 sets, draw 4 4 sets....and so on. And, for each set that hits during that particular draw, then the jackpot is split that many ways. I'd also be ok spending $5 for each ticket because then the potential is there to still get a large jackpot win if the draw goes on for 20 or more draws and multiple sets hit.
I agree on questioning why anyone would take the annuity (you can always shop around after getting the cash)..
During the height of the low interest rates (a year or so ago) the cash to jackpot rate hit around 83% (It is currently around 58.38%.)
That $780.5 million would have only been "worth" (bought an annuity expected to pay out) $940,361,445.90. Compare that to the $1.337b it could buy today, and someone taking the same cash value annuity a year or so ago would lose ~$396m over the life of the annuity...
A annuity does protect you from greedy family members who didn't like you before, wanting a money grab, and strangers wanting a handout for their utilities, and bills because their unemployed. You invest the annuity payment, and it adds to the dividends as income you receive monthly, averaging $14,000.00 to $17,500.00 per month.
Congratulations to all the winners ! I hope the money brings you peace and happiness!
The winning ticket was sold at speedway gas station 885 east Touhy Ave. Des Plaines Illinois where winning ticket sold. The business has sold a ticket will receive $500,000 commission
I would not collect it in my name definitely would set up a trust then if anyone looks it up they'll say it's the name of the trust but they cannot give the details on the owners of the trust. And also should get a financial planner or CPA to make sure the taxes are all done so IRS doesn't come after you later
I was wondering the same. Whoever it is, they wont claim til next year. That's my prediction.
Congrats to the winner!!!
Everyone else, back to work on Monday.
1 🎟, no one knows if one person or multiple people
yep. it is exactly why I''m glad i put the
$10 or more back in the ole denim pocket, walked out, without going CRAZY spendin' only 2 to 4 bucks to try, but, i am seriously much more happier with my winnings
(several times a year)when I play p4. Bye now, good luck to you, with your games, pick to win. Better odds with my pick 4 per month.
More should've won, big time. 50 t0 100 people natiownide win, even 1 million, enough to go around and multi-winners per state should be winning 4 numbers each and MB or PB after it reach 100 million, all rigged my astute
prudent daddy always said, he was right, LOL Good luck again with your B.O.L.N. (Better "odds" Lottery Numbers!" Good night. Be safe.
Hi, Wander.
Cassie here.
Just read that.
---
ALOT of good folks should have a fair opportunity, chance, win big money to share it, when it's so high.
I would think ithat would be public, even without saying their names.
If even 15 people per state let's say, 1 day(I HOPE)for ALOT of good people to win, i think it would be publicly announced... I really hope 1 day 100 people won 1 Million dollars. Enough left over, when it's so high like that, for UNCLE SAME I.R.S. to get their cut. G-night.
Whopping $12 on Powerball last night. Normally will split it between that one, MM and maybe Lucky for Life. Not this time...all to four lines Powerball with Powerplay.
Raining heavy here right now and wish E. KY wouldn't get any of this. Too bad it couldn't be sent to the west coast to put out those huge fires.
Just read that the last billion dollar win in Simpsonville lawyer was convicted.
I'm trying to understand why would that lawyer need access to her bank account and why did she not have a family member with her in the meetings.
I have a friend who is a CPA, we would be going to the attorney together and 1 family member and neutral friend.
ain't no way in the world I would lose $83 million, he's a lawyer and not a financial investor
therefore, you have to let someone know you won that has your best interest at heart
You must be talking about Simpsonville, SC, not Simpsonville, KY where I live!
She's lucky to live in anonymous state winning all that money.
You do understand that our taxes pay for schools, roads, social programs, and many things that profit you every day? Our tax rates are better than more than a few other nations. Why so greedy???
the lotteries pick the winning area they want or they would tell us if it was a quick pick or own numbers.
Untrue, then why engage on this site. Now, maybe scratch tickets but not lottery
To me, it's like bingo, the luck of the draw
SC is correct
i bought all possible mega balls 25 quick picks and mega play multiplier and lottery only gave me 8 dollars back.75 dollars and 8 dollars back,impossible to win unless they pick your state.