Lottery ticket-holders in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland each selected winning numbers and will split the $ 640 million jackpot, which was believed to be the largest such prize, lottery official said on Saturday.
Mike Lang, a spokesman for the Illinois lottery, said his state's winning ticket was sold in the town of Red Bud, near St. Louis. Winner uses the quick pick numbers selected, he said.
Maryland Lottery announced before Saturday's winning ticket sold at the retail store in Baltimore County. No details were immediately available for tickets Kansas. Lang said each winning ticket should be worth more than $ 213 million before tax.
The winning number drawn Friday night were 02-04-23-38-46 and the Mega Ball 23rd Carole Everett, director of communications for the Maryland Lottery, said the ticket from the State last won a major national jackpot is 2008, when a ticket sold for $ 24 million.
Mike Lang, a spokesman for the Illinois lottery, said his state's winning ticket was sold in the town of Red Bud, near St. Louis. Winner uses the quick pick numbers selected, he said.
Maryland Lottery announced before Saturday's winning ticket sold at the retail store in Baltimore County. No details were immediately available for tickets Kansas. Lang said each winning ticket should be worth more than $ 213 million before tax.
The winning number drawn Friday night were 02-04-23-38-46 and the Mega Ball 23rd Carole Everett, director of communications for the Maryland Lottery, said the ticket from the State last won a major national jackpot is 2008, when a ticket sold for $ 24 million.
"We're thrilled," she said. "We are excited and thanks." It is estimated jackpot exceeds the previous record of $ 390 million, which was divided in 2007, two winners who purchased tickets in Georgia and New Jersey.
Americans spent nearly $ 1.5 billion chance of the jackpot, which makes $ 462 million lump sum and about $ 347 million after federal tax withholding. The jackpot odds to 1 in 176 million, it would cost $ 176 million to purchase in any combination. Under this scenario, the strategy to win $ 171000000 less if your state also can not tax.
From coast to coast, people stood in line at retail stores Friday for one last chance at striking it rich.
Maribeth Ptak, 31, of Milwaukee, just buy the Mega Millions jackpot which is really big and buy one on Friday in Milwaukee grocery store. She said that the money used to pay off bills, including school loans, and then I would donate a large part of the charity.
"I know that chances are really not in my favor, but why not," she said. Sawnya Castro, 31, Dallas, bought for $ 50 ticket at 7-Eleven. She thought it would use the money to the rescue dogs for company, to arrange her grandmother, and maybe even buy a larger one for herself.
"It's not too big -. I do that too much to the house," she said. Willie Richards, who works for the U.S. Marshals Service in federal court in Atlanta, came if there ever was a time to build astronomical odds, it was like $ 640000000 is at stake. He bought five tickets.
"If it is so large as now, you'd be nuts not to play," he said. "You have to take a chance on Lady Luck."
