After weeks of suspense, a group of Illinois lottery players has stepped forward to claim a massive $349 million Mega Millions jackpot from the March 25 drawing.
The winning ticket, purchased at Casey’s General Store in Cortland—about 65 miles west of Chicago—matched all six winning numbers: 1, 5, 17, 39, 62, and Mega Ball 8. The winners, who chose to remain anonymous, also paid $1 extra for the Megaplier feature to boost their prize.
Calling themselves “Blessed,” the winners shared their joy in a statement released by the Illinois Lottery. “We’re absolutely ecstatic and feel incredibly blessed. We took a chance and bought a single ‘Quick Pick’ ticket. This unbelievable prize will truly be the gift that keeps on giving,” they said, adding that they plan to use the money for good causes.
Casey’s General Store will receive a $500,000 bonus for selling the jackpot ticket.
While the group won the full advertised amount of $349 million, taxes took a significant portion. Federal law requires a 24% withholding on large lottery prizes, which in this case amounted to about $83.8 million. On top of that, Illinois state taxes at 4.95% took another $17.3 million. Altogether, over $100 million was deducted from the prize before the winners saw their share.
The jackpot run also generated nearly $24 million in total ticket sales, contributing more than $9 million to the Illinois Common School Fund, which supports K-12 education.
Tonight’s Mega Millions drawing offers a new jackpot estimated at $70 million. Since April 8, ticket prices have increased to $5, but officials say the revamped game now offers better odds and more frequent payouts.
Meanwhile, lottery officials are still waiting for other winners to come forward. One unclaimed $1 million ticket is close to expiring, and a $112 million jackpot winner has yet to claim their prize—risking a substantial loss due to taxes and deadlines.
