Mega Millions Winner from New Jersey to Get $212 Million

The two biggest lottery games in America are usually Powerball and Mega Millions. The two lottery games got even bigger lately, as no one was winning the grand jackpot for either Powerball or Mega Millions for weeks. The drought finally ended in Powerball last week, as two people split the $174 million jackpot by getting all six numbers. That left Mega Millions with the biggest lottery prize of all. Not to be outdone, Mega Millions got one solo winner to claim all $200+ million of its grand prize in the New Jersey lottery.

Mega Millions held its latest drawing on Tuesday night, with the grand prize now up to $212 million dollars. To win it all, a player needed to match five numbers, as well as the Mega Millions Mega Ball. No one had done that for weeks, leaving Mega Millions to get even richer.

Last night, the winning numbers were 26, 32, 35, 43, and 52. The all important Mega Ball was 10. But this time, there was a winner among the Mega Millions players.

Powerball finally paid out big money to two people over the weekend. Mega Millions only had to give it to one person. An unknown lottery player who bought his or her winning ticket in New Jersey is reported to be the sole winner. Therefore, all $212 million will be given out to this lucky player.

According to a New Jersey lottery spokesman, the Mega Millions ticket was sold in Ocean County, New Jersey. The specific location in Ocean County was not revealed.

Despite technically winning $212 million, the Mega Millions, like all lottery games, offers false advertising on exactly how much the jackpot is. Taxes stand to take away at least $75 million of the grand Mega Millions prize.

Winning $212 million still doesn't come close to the record Mega Millions jackpot, which was a whopping $390 million in 2007. In that case, there were two winners in New Jersey and Georgia. It is not known what the biggest Mega Millions prize is for one single winner.

A few Mega Millions players came up just short of winning the big one, but still took home a share of dough. Four people from Detroit alone won a secondary prize of $250,000 by hitting all but the Mega Ball, as did one player from Georgia. Nine more lottery players got $10,000 by getting four numbers and the Mega Ball.

The next Mega Millions game, with a considerably lower grand prize, will be held on Friday in 10 states.

Sources

Fox News- "1 Ticket Wins $212M Lottery Drawing" www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,504409,00.html

WWJ 950- "Mega Millions Winner Sold In NJ" www.wwj.com/Mega-Millions-Winner-Sold-in-NJ/3958139

WSBTV- "1 Ticket Wins $212 Million Mega Millions Jackpot" www.wsbtv.com/news/18850080/detail.html