Lottery winner’s luck runs out on $36million Mega Millions jackpot after ticketholder failed to come forward before 180-day deadline
- The ticket purchased at a Publix in Jacksonville, Florida, expired on Sunday and no one came forward to collect the $36 million grand prize
- The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot were about 1 in 302.6 million
A lottery winner of a $36 million Mega Millions jackpot’s luck ran out after the ticket holder failed to claim the winnings within the 180-day deadline.
The ticket, purchased at a Publix in Jacksonville, Florida, expired on Sunday, and no one stepped forward to collect the eight-figure grand prize.
The potential jackpot winner could have claimed the substantial prize after the Mega Millions draw, which revealed the numbers 18, 39, 42, 57, 63 for the white balls and 7 for the Mega Ball on August 15, 2023.
Mega Millions tickets, which cost $2 each, are sold in all states except Alabama, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii and Nevada.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot were about 1 in 302.6 million. Those odds are worse than the 1 in 11.5 million chance of being bitten by a shark or the 1 in 700,000 chance of having identical quadruplets.
A lottery winner’s luck of a $36 million Mega Millions jackpot ran out after the ticket holder couldn’t claim the winnings within the 180-day deadline
The ticket, purchased at a Publix in Jacksonville, Florida, expired on Sunday, and no one stepped forward to collect the eight-figure grand prize
“Florida law requires that 80 percent of unclaimed prize money from expired tickets be transferred directly to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund,” the Florida Lottery shared. FOX business.
‘The remaining 20 percent goes back to the prize pool from which future prizes are awarded or used for special prize promotions.’
“If a MEGA MILLIONS jackpot ticket is not claimed within 180 days of the applicable drawing date, funds to pay for the unclaimed jackpot will be returned to lottery members in their share of sales for the jackpot rollover series.”
According to the Florida Lottery, the money will be used to fund public schools, universities and scholarships.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot were about 1 in 302.6 million. Those odds are worse than the 1 in 11.5 million chance of being bitten by a shark or the 1 in 700,000 chance of having identical quadruplets.
The unclaimed ticket was sold just a week after a lucky person in Florida won a $1.58 billion Mega Millions prize.
The winning ticket was purchased at the Publix at 630 Atlantic Blvd. in Neptune Beach, 26 miles east of Jacksonville.
The Publix, which had opened less than three months ago, received a $100,000 bonus for selling the ticket.
As of Friday afternoon, the Mega Millions jackpot is $457 million on an annuity basis. If you opt for a one-time cash payout, it’s worth $216.8 million.