While three months have passed since the jackpot was last won, thousands of ticket holders have still been snapping up six- and even seven-figure prizes in recent games. Californian lawyer Michael Ioannou came forward this week to collect the $750,207 he won for matching all five main numbers in the draw on Friday 20th May, and revealed that he could have missed out on his fortune had he not tuned in to watch the local news.
Michael heard on the news that a winning ticket had been bought at his local store, the Coach House Wine & Liquors in Cupertino, but even then it took time to sink in after he checked his numbers. Michael, who now plans to retire in the near future, said in a press release: “I had to read it about 80 times to make sure. I kept looking at it and I kept laughing.”
Players have to match all five main numbers plus the Mega Ball to scoop the jackpot and can then decide whether to take the full annuity amount in annual instalments over 29 years or a cash lump sum. The cash option for the latest jackpot works out at $186 million, which is currently the largest lottery prize on offer anywhere in the world.
Players are sure to be rushing out in their droves to play Mega Millions, and tickets can be bought from authorised retailers in 46 jurisdictions across the USA, as well as being available online from around the world. WorldLottery.net will then update the results shortly after the draw has taken place, so you won’t even have to keep an ear out for the local news to see if you have won. Good luck!