CORTLAND, Ill. — The mystery surrounding the $349 million Mega Millions jackpot from the March 25 drawing has finally been solved. After weeks of suspense, the Illinois Lottery announced that the winners have officially come forward to claim the massive prize.
Identifying themselves only by the nickname “Blessed,” the winners said they purchased a single Quick Pick ticket. “We’re absolutely ecstatic and feel incredibly blessed,” they said in a statement. “We plan to use this money to do good—this unbelievable prize will truly be the gift that keeps on giving.”
The winning ticket was bought at Casey’s General Store, located at 70 S. Somonauk Road in Cortland. For selling the winning ticket, the store received a $500,000 bonus from the Illinois Lottery.
This win is the fourth Mega Millions jackpot claimed by an Illinois player in the past four years:
- In June 2024, an iLottery player won $552 million, setting a U.S. record for the largest online lottery win.
- In July 2022, a player in Des Plaines won $1.34 billion, the largest lottery prize in Illinois history.
- In June 2021, a ticket bought in Crestwood won $56 million.
Beyond creating new millionaires, lottery sales also help fund education. During this jackpot run, nearly $24 million in Mega Millions tickets were sold in Illinois, generating more than $9 million for the Common School Fund, which supports K-12 public education.
The Mega Millions jackpot for Tuesday night is estimated at $70 million. Tickets cost $5 and are available in stores, online, and through the Illinois Lottery app.
