Two Illinois Residents Who Bought Lottery Tickets Together Discuss Lump-Sum vs. Annuity Payment
Legal and Financial Experts Review Prize Claim Procedures
A convenience store at a gas station in a suburb of Chicago, USA, where a lottery with a prize of 1.9 trillion won was sold. The winners are known to be two citizens of Illinois. Photo is a file photo.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Juri] The winner of the $1.337 billion (approximately 1.9 trillion KRW) lottery prize, the third largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history, has finally come forward. The jackpot winners are two individuals who appeared after 53 days to claim their prize.
According to the lottery authorities' announcement on the 21st (local time), two co-owners of the single winning Mega Millions ticket worth $1.337 billion from the July 29th drawing visited the Illinois Lottery office to collect their winnings.
The lottery authorities had previously revealed that the winning ticket was sold at a convenience store inside a gas station in Des Plaines, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, immediately after the drawing.
According to the Illinois Lottery, the co-owners purchased the ticket together in July with an agreement to share the jackpot if they won.
The two individuals came together to claim the prize and agreed to split the winnings.
Harold Mays, Director of the Illinois Lottery, stated, "From the moment the win was confirmed until recently, the two have been consulting with legal and financial experts regarding the claim process and management of the prize." He added that they are happily contemplating what to do with the unexpected large sum.
The winners requested anonymity, so their identities have not been disclosed. In Illinois, lottery winners can request to remain anonymous. However, according to the lottery office, they were reportedly very happy and felt as if they were floating on clouds.
ABC News quoted an Illinois lottery official saying, "To receive a lump sum payment, the winners had to request payment from the lottery office by no later than the 27th."
It was further explained that "at least 16 states, including Illinois, guarantee the anonymity of jackpot winners."
This jackpot is the third largest amount in U.S. history.
The Mega Millions jackpot had grown because there were no first-place winners for 29 consecutive draws since April 15.
Meanwhile, with a winner emerging in Illinois, the Illinois Common School Fund will receive $34 million (approximately 47.464 billion KRW) according to Mega Millions regulations. The gas station that sold the winning ticket will also receive $500,000 (approximately 698 million KRW).
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