The lucky winner of the $552 million Mega Millions jackpot has come forward to claim their prize, Illinois Lottery officials said.
However, lottery officials said the lucky winner of one of the state’s largest jackpots has decided to remain anonymous.
The winner, nicknamed “MEGA Millionaire,” snagged the jackpot after playing the game online, lottery officials said.
Lottery officials said the win is the largest jackpot won through iLottery in U.S. history.
“I was scrolling through my emails when I saw one from the Illinois Lottery saying to check my numbers because I won a prize,” said “MEGA Millionaire.” “In the past, I’ve won $2 here or $5 there, so I assumed it would be similar.”
The lucky winner continued, “You can’t imagine my shock and disbelief when I saw that I had won the jackpot amount of $552 million. I actually quit the app and then signed back in to double-check and make sure it was real. It was real alright – but it still feels unreal!”
The MEGA Millionaire matched all five numbers and the Mega Ball, 19-37-40-63-69-17, to win the jackpot in the June 4, 2024 Mega Millions drawing.
“I was raised by a single mom and throughout my childhood, she had to work two jobs to provide for our family, to put food on the table, and for us to get an education,” expressed the grateful winner. “The day after I graduated from high school, I started working and I haven’t stopped since.”
Tuesday night’s historic online win was the ninth-largest Mega Millions jackpot prize in the game’s history and the second-largest prize ever won in Illinois.
In July 2022, a ticket bought at a gas station in Des Plaines won a $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot – which remains the largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois.
Tuesday’s winner said, “I am a hard worker. I’ve spent my life as a laborer and once I was making a decent living, I asked my mom to retire and let me take care of her. It was my way of thanking her for how much she sacrificed for us. I haven’t told her yet about this life-changing windfall but when that time comes, we’re all going to be shedding some happy tears.”
Officials said the Mega Millions jackpot roll started on March 26, and nearly $28 million in total ticket sales generated $11 million for the Common School Fund to support K-12 education in Illinois.