A Missouri lottery player risks losing a $1 million Mega Millions prize if they do not come forward soon.
The winning ticket was purchased months ago for the October 25, 2024, drawing. Officials urge residents to check their tickets carefully before time runs out.
The winning numbers were 23, 26, 35, 41, 43, with a gold Mega Ball of 7. The unknown winner matched all five white balls but missed the Mega Ball, earning a $1 million prize.
The odds of matching five numbers are about 1 in 12.6 million.
Another player in Missouri also won a $1 million prize during the same drawing. One ticket was sold at Alta Convenience in Creve Coeur, near St. Louis, and the other at The Pantry in Branson, near Springfield.
Missouri Lottery rules give winners 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prizes. Both players must claim their winnings by April 23, 2025, at the Missouri Lottery headquarters.
If they miss the deadline, they will lose their winnings, and the money will not be returned to Missouri’s public education fund.
Winners must also decide how to receive their prize. They can choose a lump sum or annuity payments. Annuity spreads the money over several years, while the lump sum pays everything at once but faces higher taxes.
Federal taxes take 24% of the prize, and Missouri taxes take 4%. This means winners will lose about $280,000 in taxes and receive roughly $720,000.
Mega Millions recently announced ticket price increases and raised the jackpot to a historic $1.15 billion for the Christmas drawing, as excitement builds.
