CHICAGO (WMBD) — It’s been about a month but the people who purchased a winning Mega Millions ticket last month have come forward to claim their prize, the Illinois Lottery announced.
“After more than a month of excitement and anticipation, the Illinois Lottery players who won the $349 million Mega Millions jackpot in the March 25 drawing have officially come forward to claim their life-changing prize,” the organization said in a news release.
“We took a chance and bought a single Quick Pick ticket,” shared the lucky winners, nicknamed ‘Blessed.’ “We’re absolutely ecstatic and feel incredibly blessed. We plan to use this money to do good – this unbelievable prize will truly be the gift that keeps on giving.”
The lottery said the winning ticket was purchased at Casey’s General Store, located at 70 S. Somonauk Road in Cortland which is in DeKalb County. The store will get $500,000 for having sold the winning ticket.
The lottery said this was the fourth time an Illinois Lottery player has won a Mega Millions jackpot in nearly four years:
- In June 2024, an iLottery player won $552 million – making this the largest prize ever won by an online lottery player in the U.S.
- In July 2022, a ticket bought at a gas station in Des Plaines won a $1.34 billion Mega Millions jackpot – which remains the largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois.
- In June 2021, a Mega Millions player won $56 million at a Citgo gas station in Crestwood.
Nearly $24 million in ticket sales were generated during the buildup of the jackpot and the Illinois Lottery was able to put more than $9 million into he Common School Fund to support K-12 education in Illinois, the agency said.
Tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot is about $70 million. Each ticket costs $5. Tickets for the game can be purchased in-store, online, or on the Illinois Lottery app. For more information or to buy tickets online, please visit IllinoisLottery.com.
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