DETROIT (AP) – Someone in Michigan bought the winning ticket for the $ 1 billion Mega Millions jackpot, which was the third largest lottery prize in American history.
The winning numbers for the Friday night draw were 4, 26, 42, 50 and 60, with a Mega Ball of 24. The winning ticket was purchased at a Kroger store in the Detroit suburb of Novi, the Michigan Lottery said.
“Someone in Michigan woke up this morning to life-changing news, and Kroger Michigan congratulates the latest multimillionaire from Michigan,” said Rachel Hurst, a regional spokeswoman for the grocery store chain. She declined to comment further.
The Mega Millions top prize has increased since September 15, when a winning ticket was sold in Wisconsin. The lottery’s next estimated jackpot is $ 20 million.
Friday night’s draw was just two days after a ticket sold in Maryland matched all six numbers and won a $ 731.1 million Powerball. jackpot.
Only two lottery tickets in the US were bigger than Friday’s jackpot. Three tickets for a $ 1.586 billion Powerball jackpot were sold in January 2016, and one winning ticket for a $ 1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot in October 2018.
The jackpot figures refer to amounts if a winner opts for an annuity, paid in 30 annual installments. Most winners choose a cash prize, which for the Mega Millions estimated jackpot will be $ 739.6 million before tax.
In Grosse Ile, a suburb south of Detroit, 126 people bought more than 600 tickets for the Friday draw, but did not win the jackpot. They were hoping to win enough money to replace a bridge in their possession in the Detroit River that was closed indefinitely for major repairs. The only other transport option for the 10,000 inhabitants of the island is a privately owned toll bridge.
“We used it to lift our spirits and dream a little bit,” said organizer Kyle de Beausset. “Of course we are open to any help with the bridge, but I can not imagine the winner wanting to fund it.”
The chance of winning a Mega Millions jackpot was incredibly strong, at one in 302.5 million.
The game is played in 45 states as well as Washington, DC and the US Virgin Islands.