Mega Millions $1.5 Billion Jackpot Still Unclaimed: Report

The winner of last month's record-setting $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot has reportedly still not claimed the prize.

The winning ticket was purchased at KC Mart #7 in Simpsonville, South Carolina -- the game's first jackpot winner from the state -- on Oct. 23, according to lottery officials via ABC News.

The ticket's numbers matched all six numbers drawn (5-28-62-65-70 and the Megaball 5), however, the owner still hasn't claimed the prize three weeks later.

"We have not heard that the winner in South Carolina has come forward," Seth Elkin, a spokesperson for Maryland Lottery and Gaming, told ABC News.

South Carolina is among seven states in which the law allows a winner to stay anonymous, along with Delaware, Kansas, Maryalnd, North Dakota, Ohio and Texas, according to Maryland Lottery and Gaming via ABC News.

The winner will have 180 days since the drawing to claim the prize, according to game rules.

Tony Cooper, the chief operating officer with the South Carolina Education Lottery, suggested that the winner sign the back of the lottery ticket, keep it in a safe location and reach out to a reliable financial advisor, according to ABC News.

The jackpot winner has the option to cash-out and receive a lump sum of approximately $878 million or choose an annual sum which will payout a total of $1.586 billion over the course of 30 years.

C.J. Patel, the owner of KC Mart #7 where the ticket was purchased, will receive $50,000, which is the maximum share of money that can be received by the owner of a store in which the winning jackpot ticket was purchased.

There were several other big winners who fell one number short of the jackpot as well. According to the Mega Millions website, there was a total of 36 second-prize winners, valued at $1 million on Oct. 23.

"Eight were in California, four each in Florida and New York, two each in Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey and Virginia, and one each in Arizona, the District of Columbia, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin," according to the Mega Millions website.

The million-dollar tickets would have matched all five white balls but not the gold Mega Ball.

The previous record Mega Millions jackpot of $656 million on March 30, 2012, was shared by winners in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland, while a $648 million jackpot was won in California and Georgia on December 17, 2013.

Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot was worth $106 million ($59 million cash option) after there was no winner during last week's drawing.

Here are the results from Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing:

Numbers: 63-69-46-57-34

Mega Ball: 11

Megaplier: 3x

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer



To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go