Single winning ticket announced in $393M Mega Millions jackpot

On August 12, Mega Millions lottery officials issued a release stating that one lucky Mega Millions player beat the one in 259 million odds to match all six numbers drawn on August 11. The winning numbers for the August 11 drawing were 23, 33, 53, 56 and 58, plus the Mega Ball 6. That single winning ticket is worth an estimated $393 million ($247 million cash) – the largest jackpot in almost a year, and the fifth largest prize in the game’s 15 year history. The winning ticket was purchased at Nick’s Barbecue in Palos Heights, Illinois.

Also in Friday’s drawing, three tickets matched the five white balls to win the game’s second prize. One, sold in Washington, included the optional Megaplier (a $1 extra purchase available in most states) to win $5 million after the 5x Megaplier was drawn; the others were sold in California and Ohio.

Eleven other Mega Millions jackpots have been won in the month of August, including two more of the game’s largest prizes – $336 million on August 28, 2009 (split between winners in California and New York) and $330 million on August 31, 2007 (shared among winners in Maryland, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia). One August jackpot winner never claimed his/her prize – $31 million won in New York on August 1, 2006.

This is the fourth Mega Millions jackpot won this year. It had been rolling since it was last won on April 28, when David Trapp won a $61 million prize in California. Two other jackpots have also been awarded this year – $191 million to Jack Freney, also in California, and $177 million to Texan Eliberto Cantu with a ticket he purchased in Arkansas.

In this jackpot run, more than 51.6 million prizes have been won at all levels since April 28, including 55 prizes of $1 million or more.  The Mega Millions jackpot resets to $15 million ($9 million cash) for the next drawing on Tuesday, August 15.

And if you weren’t that lucky Mega Millions jackpot winner, you still have a one in 292 million shot for a winning Powerball ticket, according to CNN.  The Powerball jackpot has been building since June 10 and is currently valued at $356 million – which is the 14th largest jackpot in Powerball’s history.

Written by:  Ace News Today Staff