SUGAR LAND, Texas – One lucky Texan struck gold, or rather Mega Millions, in the drawing held on September 10, 2024. After an exciting 27 draws without a jackpot winner, the 28th draw saw a single ticket sold in Texas hit the life-changing $800 million jackpot.
The winner, whose ticket matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball, now faces the classic lottery winner’s dilemma: take home the staggering $800 million spread out over 30 annually-increasing payments, or opt for the lump sum of $404.2 million. However, once federal taxes are factored in, the actual take-home amount shrinks, leaving the winner with $505.25 million in the annuity option or $254.69 million in cash. Fortunately for Texans, the state does not impose taxes on lottery winnings, making this jackpot a true win for the lucky holder.
A Historic Win
The winning Quick Pick ticket was sold at Murphy Express 8848 on Highway 90A in Sugar Land. This marks the 15th time a Texan has claimed a Mega Millions jackpot since the game was introduced in the state in 2003. It’s also the third Mega Millions jackpot won this year and ranks as the seventh-largest in the game’s history.
Ryan Mindell, the executive director of the Texas Lottery, shared his excitement: “We are beyond thrilled to celebrate Texas’ largest-ever jackpot winner. If you’re holding the winning ticket, make sure to sign it, keep it safe, consult legal and financial advisors, and contact the Texas Lottery before heading to Austin to claim your prize.”
What’s Next for the Winner?
In Texas, winners of $1 million or more can choose to remain anonymous—at least for a while. By law, their identity remains hidden for 30 days after they claim the annuity. This gives winners a chance to quietly plan their next steps with their newfound fortune.
Other Big Wins Across the U.S.
While one Texan claimed the grand prize, three other tickets sold in Florida, New York, and Washington matched the first five numbers, each winning $1 million. A Californian ticket holder did one better, winning $606,656 thanks to the state’s unique pari-mutuel system. Meanwhile, smaller prizes continued to pour in for over 2 million players across the nine prize tiers in Tuesday’s draw.
The next Mega Millions drawing will take place on Friday, September 13, 2024, resetting to its starting jackpot of $20 million.
For those keeping score, the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot remain a daunting 1 in 302.6 million, but as Texas has shown, sometimes all it takes is one lucky ticket.
Top U.S. Jackpots of All Time
With Tuesday’s win, the $800 million Mega Millions jackpot ranks as the 13th largest in U.S. lottery history and the 7th largest for Mega Millions. It’s a testament to the continued popularity of lottery games across the nation, with Powerball and Mega Millions consistently generating massive jackpots. Powerball still holds the title for the biggest jackpot ever, with a jaw-dropping $2.04 billion prize won in November 2022.
