A player in Texas has won an estimated $800 million in the Mega Millions lottery, marking a significant jackpot win for the state. The identity of the winner remains undisclosed, but they became the first individual to match all six drawn numbers since June. The winning ticket was acquired from a Murphy USA convenience store in Sugar Land, Texas, via a Quick Pick, where numbers are generated by a computer.
The winning combination consisted of the white balls numbered 1, 2, 16, 24, and 66, along with the gold Mega Ball 6. According to the Texas Lottery, the winner opted for a lump sum payout—a choice made at the time of purchase—valued at approximately $404.2 million before taxes.
The winner has a timeframe of 180 days post-draw to claim their prize. Additionally, the store that sold the ticket will receive a $1 million bonus for the sale.
This win accounts for the third Mega Millions jackpot of 2024, following a New Jersey winner who took home $1.128 billion in March and an Illinois winner who won $552 million in June. This victory marks the 15th Mega Millions jackpot awarded in Texas and represents the largest lottery prize ever won in the state.
Ryan Mindell, the executive director of the Texas Lottery, expressed excitement about celebrating Texas’ largest jackpot winner, advising the winner to sign the ticket, keep it secure, and consult with financial and legal advisors prior to contacting the Texas Lottery.
In addition to the grand prize, four tickets matched the five white numbers, earning each of those winners a second-tier prize of $1 million. These tickets were sold in California, Florida, New York, and Washington. Furthermore, 47 other players earned the third-tier prize by matching four white balls and the Mega Ball, with ten winners who opted for the Megaplier enhancement taking home $40,000 each, while the others received $10,000 each.
The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, September 13, resetting the prize to the starting value of $20 million. Interestingly, despite the potential superstition surrounding the date, seven Mega Millions jackpots have previously been won on a Friday the 13th, including a substantial $1.348 billion prize won in Maine on January 13, 2023.