A winning $1.13 billion Mega Millions ticket sold in New Jersey remains unclaimed months after the March drawing. While the lucky winner still has time to claim the prize, the clock is ticking, as they only have until March 2024 to come forward.
If unclaimed, a portion of the prize money will revert back to the state. This situation has generated significant attention, especially since other recent lottery winners have already collected their windfalls.
Key Facts:
- The $1.13 billion Mega Millions ticket was sold at a ShopRite Liquor store in Monmouth County, New Jersey, in late March.
- The ticket matched the numbers 07, 11, 22, 29, 38, and the gold Mega Ball 04.
- New Jersey’s claim deadline is one year from the drawing, giving the winner until March 2025.
- Lottery winners in New Jersey can choose to remain anonymous and have two payout options: annuities over 30 years or a lump sum of $537.5 million before taxes.
- If the prize remains unclaimed, at least 30% of the money will be returned to the state, with the remainder distributed among participating states.
The Rest of The Story:
As of September, the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot, drawn in late March, has yet to be claimed, despite widespread media coverage. The winning ticket was sold at a ShopRite Liquor store in Monmouth County, New Jersey, matching the winning numbers along with the Mega Ball. According to New Jersey state lottery rules, the winner has one year from the drawing date to come forward.
The New Jersey Lottery has advised that the ticket holder take precautionary steps, including signing the ticket, making copies, and seeking legal and financial advice before claiming the prize. This sizable jackpot offers the winner the option of choosing between an annuity payout spread over 30 years or a one-time cash payment of $537.5 million before taxes.
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New Jersey allows winners to remain anonymous indefinitely, shielding their identities from public inspection. However, the lottery requires winners to provide identification to officials and checks for unpaid obligations such as child support or back taxes before the prize can be claimed. If the prize remains unclaimed, a significant portion will be redirected back to the state under New Jersey’s laws governing unclaimed lottery funds.
This $1.13 billion jackpot is the fifth-largest in Mega Millions history, and the winner’s silence has become particularly notable, as lottery winners in other states, including California and Oregon, have already claimed their billion-dollar prizes earlier this year.
Commentary:
The mystery surrounding the unclaimed $1.13 billion jackpot raises questions about why the winner has not yet stepped forward. There may be legitimate reasons for the delay—such as the individual taking time to assemble a legal and financial team. It also may be the ticket holder is unaware it is the winning ticket or the ticket is lost or tossed. New Jersey’s provision allowing winners to remain anonymous indefinitely provides a unique level of privacy protection, but the winner must act before the deadline, or else they risk forfeiting a life-changing sum of money.
Moreover, the state will benefit from a significant portion of the unclaimed prize if it goes uncollected, but it seems unlikely that anyone would willingly pass up such an opportunity. As the March 2024 deadline approaches, it will be interesting to see if the winner finally steps into the spotlight or chooses to remain a mystery.
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The Bottom Line:
With six months left before the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot in New Jersey expires, the winner remains unidentified. While the state stands to gain if the prize goes unclaimed, many are watching closely to see if the lucky individual will finally step forward to collect their historic windfall.
