The $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot has finally been claimed in South Carolina after 4 months
Someone in South Carolina finally got around to becoming nearly $900 million richer — and it only took them over four months.
The record-breaking $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot from October 2018 was finally claimed in South Carolina on Monday, CNN reports. The winner, who remains anonymous, took the lump sum payout and will receive $878 million. That's the biggest lottery jackpot ever collected by one person; a previous Powerball jackpot in 2016 was slightly larger, but it was split among three people.
Lottery winners in South Carolina have 180 days to claim their prize after the drawing date, meaning the deadline to come forward was next month. The State reported in December that the winner still hadn't claimed the money yet, with an official for the South Carolina Lottery Commission saying at the time, "This is unusual, considering that it's $1.5 billion."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
If no one had claimed the prize within six months, the jackpot would have been divided among the 44 states where Mega Millions is played based on sales. Now that the prize has been claimed, South Carolina will receive $61 million in income taxes on the payout, while the store that sold the winning ticket will receive $50,000.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The best new music of 2024 by genre
The Week Recommends Outstanding albums, from pop to electro and classical
By The Week UK Published
-
Nine best TV shows of 2024 to binge this Christmas
The Week Recommends From Baby Reindeer and Slow Horses to Rivals and Shogun, here are the critics' favourites
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: December 28, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published