Mega Millions Jackpot of $1.58 Billion Hit in Florida

After 31 consecutive drawings without a single match of the six winning numbers, a lucky winner has emerged in the Mega Millions lottery. A ticket sold in Florida managed to match the six correct numbers during the drawing on August 8, securing the coveted top prize.

“Congratulations to the Florida Lottery for selling a jackpot-winning ticket in Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing,” said Gretchen Corbin, President and CEO of the Georgia Lottery and Director of the Mega Millions Consortium. “We congratulate our newest jackpot winner, as well as the more than 43.7 million winners at all prize levels throughout this jackpot run.”

The winning numbers from last night were 13, 19, 20, 32, and 33, with the golden Mega Ball number 14.

Historic Triumph

According to a statement from Mega Millions, the final numbers from Tuesday night’s drawing are still being calculated. However, it’s highly likely that the jackpot will set a new record once the total prize is officially determined. Mega Millions’ previous highest jackpot was $1.537 billion, won by a single ticket in South Carolina in October 2018.

The August 8 Mega Millions jackpot ranks among the top three prizes ever offered in US history. The first and second spots are held by Powerball: a $2.04 billion jackpot won by a California player last November and a $1.586 billion jackpot shared by three tickets sold in California, Florida, and Tennessee in January 2016.

Calculation of Final Jackpot Payout

The final jackpot payout of Mega Millions is calculated based on a 30-year annuitized payment plan. The annuity payment, if the winner chooses the full value of the advertised jackpot, is distributed in the form of bonds backed by the US Treasury. With interest rates on the rise as part of the federal government’s efforts to curb inflation, the annuitized jackpots for Mega Millions and Powerball have been increasing at a faster rate than when the federal interest rate was near zero.

The winning ticket from Tuesday night was sold at a Publix Supermarket located at 630 Atlantic Boulevard in Neptune Beach, approximately 15 miles east of Jacksonville. The winner has the option to choose between a 30-year annuitized payout of $1.58 billion or a one-time cash option of about $783.3 million.

Both prizes are subject to a 37% federal tax, levied on the nation’s top earners.

Florida’s Tax Advantage

Florida is one of only eight states that does not consider lottery winnings as individual income. Therefore, lottery wins in the Sunshine State are not subject to state tax.

Not only did Tuesday night’s winner defy the odds of one in 302.5 million to win the jackpot, but they were also fortunate to have purchased the life-changing ticket in Florida, where such wins are tax-free. If the ticket had been purchased in neighboring Georgia, the state’s 5.75% tax would have reduced the one-time cash option by $45 million.

More Winners

The Mega Millions drawing on August 8 made over seven million tickets winners, with most receiving the game’s smallest prize of $2.

In addition to the jackpot, seven other tickets matched the five white balls but not the golden Mega Ball, winning the game’s second-tier prize of $1 million. Two of these tickets, sold in Florida and North Carolina, purchased the optional $1 Megaplier add-on, which doubled their winnings to $2 million with the Megaplier landing on 2x.

Another 166 tickets matched four of the white balls and the Mega Ball, winning the third-tier prize of $10,000. Twenty-eight of them had the Megaplier, doubling their winnings to $20,000.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much was the Mega Millions jackpot won in Florida?

A lucky winner in Florida won the Mega Millions jackpot with a value of $1.58 billion. This historic win occurred during the drawing on August 8.

What were the numbers that led to the Mega Millions jackpot win?

The winning numbers for the Mega Millions jackpot on August 8 were 13, 19, 20, 32, and 33, and the golden Mega Ball number was 14.

What record did the Mega Millions jackpot break?

The $1.58 billion jackpot in the Mega Millions drawing on August 8 is poised to set a new record, surpassing the previous highest jackpot of $1.537 billion.

What happens if the winner chooses the annuitized payout?

The winner can opt for an annuitized payout of $1.58 billion over a period of 30 years. This means that the winnings will be distributed in the form of bonds backed by the US Treasury.

What options does the winner have if they want to receive the winnings immediately?

The winner also has the option to choose a one-time payment of about $783.3 million. This option allows the winner to receive the entire prize amount at once, but taking into account the 37% federal tax.