One player in New Jersey was the lucky winner of the Mega Millions lottery jackpot, matching all six numbers to win in Tuesday's $1.13 billion drawing.
The ticket was sold at a Saker ShopRite Liquor in Neptune Township, New Jersey, lottery officials announced in a press conference held Wednesday held at the store. The retailer will receive a $30,000 bonus check for selling the winning ticket.
Richard Saker, the owner of Saker ShopRite stores, said the $30,000 bonus will be donated to area food banks through ShopRite's Partners in Caring program.
This is the first time the jackpot has been won this year, which had been steadily growing over 31 drawings since it was last won on Dec. 8, 2023. It is also the largest jackpot ever won in New Jersey.
Here's what to know about the winner.
Shhhh!If you win the Mega Millions jackpot, be quiet. Then, do this.
As of noon Wednesday, the winning player who bought a ticket in New Jersey has yet to come forward to claim their prize.
During the press conference, New Jersey Lottery Executive Director James Carey encouraged the winner to sign the back of their ticket, put it in a safe, tell only a few trusted people and get a lawyer or a financial advisor.
Lottery winners in New Jersey can choose to remain anonymous, Carey said.
This is the first time a player in the Garden State has won the Mega Millions jackpot in almost four years, with the last instance occurring in July 2020.
According to New Jersey Lottery officials, the winning ticket was purchased at a Saker ShopRite LIquor in Neptune Township, New Jersey.
Neptune Township is along the Atlantic Ocean next to Asbury Park and about 44 miles east of Trenton, the state's capital.
The winning numbers from the Tuesday, March 26 drawing were 7, 11, 22, 29 and 38. The Mega Ball was 4 and the Megaplier was 2X.
In addition to the jackpot win in New Jersey, there was also a $2 million Match 5 + Megaplier winner in New York and $1 million Match 5 winners in the following states:
To view the full list of past winners, visit the Mega Millions website.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
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