Powerball and Mega Millions Pay Out $1 Billion In Jackpots
Two of the biggest lottery prizes of all time were given away in the space of 24 hours over the weekend, as Powerball and Mega Millions paid out jackpots which combined for a total of more than $1 billion. A Mega Millions player from Florida won $450 million on Friday night, before someone from New Hampshire went even better in Powerball on Saturday by pocketing $559.7 million.
Mega Millions Winner
The Mega Millions numbers on Friday were 28, 30, 39, 59 and 70, with Mega Ball 10. The Florida Lottery announced that the winner had purchased their ticket at a 7-Eleven in Port Richey, about 40 miles north west of Tampa. They became the fourth-biggest Mega Millions winner since Mega Millions was launched, and the first winner since a number of changes were made to the game in October 2017.
Powerball Winner
Saturday’s winning Powerball numbers were 12, 29, 30, 33 and 61, with Powerball 26. The lucky ticket was sold at Reeds Ferry Market, a convenience store in Merrimack, about 25 miles south of the state capital Concord. The winner picked up the sixth-biggest jackpot in Powerball history and became the third-largest winner on a single ticket, behind Mavis Wanczyk from Massachusetts ($758.7 million in August 2017) and Gloria MacKenzie ($590.5 million in May 2013).
What Do The Winners Do Now?
Neither winner has yet come forward to contact their state lottery, but there is no immediate rush. The Mega Millions winner in Florida has 180 days to make contact, while New Hampshire prizes do not expire for a year.
Both players should sign the back of their tickets and keep them safe until they are ready to get in touch with the relevant lottery officials. They may also wish to seek out independent financial advice before they come forward.
Another key decision for both winners is how they would like their winnings to be paid. Both Powerball and Mega Millions give jackpot winners the choice between cash and annuity. The annuity option is the full advertised jackpot amount, spread over 30 annual installments, and the alternative is a reduced, one-off lump sum.
Duelling Jackpots
Both jackpots will now reset to their minimum values of $40 million, with the next Mega Millions draw taking place on Tuesday night and Powerball on Wednesday. As fans wait for the latest big winners to come forward, it will be fascinating to see which jackpot grows the fastest and which one is won first. If you want to snag one of them at the next attempt, pick numbers online or go to an authorised retailer in a participating state. Good luck!