Mega Millions $1.1B-Winner Bought Ticket in Donald Trump's Area

The winning $1.1 billion Mega Millions jackpot ticket was bought in a store near Donald Trump's exclusive golfing resort in New Jersey.

Tuesday's jackpot is waiting to be claimed by one lucky ticket holder who purchased it in a ShopRite liquor store in Neptune Township, New Jersey. That's around an hour's drive from Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.

Before Tuesday evening's draw, internet users were wondering if Trump would buy a ticket to help him pay off his outstanding legal debts.

In February, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump had to pay roughly $454 million, with interest included, in penalties for fraud having ruled that the former president and executives at the Trump Organization inflated the value of his assets to obtain more favorable terms from lenders and insurers.

The former president had been seeking a bond of $464 million to cover his fines and the disgorgement for his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., who were co-defendants in the case. On Monday, a New York court ruled that Trump could post $175 million, and gave him a 10-day deadline to do so. Trump insists he has done nothing wrong and that he is the victim of a political witch hunt.

Prior to this Trump, who became the presumptive Republican nominee earlier in March, was ordered to pay $83.3 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for damages to her reputation following her publicly accusing him of sexual assault in the mid-1990s. Trump obtained a $91.6 million appeals bond to cover the money owed earlier this month.

Trump's lawyers are asking the trial judge to set aside the January verdict or else greatly reduce the amount the jury awarded.

Newsweek has contacted Donald Trump via the contact form on his website for comment.

Before the Mega Millions draw, Ray Loewe posted on X, formerly Twitter: "You're Donald Trump, and you only have $2 left to your name. Do you play Mega Millions or Power Ball?"

Another, posting under the name Sam Cadet Bone Spurs, chimed in: "Mega Millions jackpot rises to $893 million. Donald trump seen shuffling in the queue to buy a ticket..."

Late night show host Jimmy Fallon also mocked the former president regarding the lottery draw. In a voice over of a previous draw from earlier this month, Fallon impersonated Trump as the winning numbers were announced, branding the draw as "fake news."

In another skit, Fallon likened playing the Mega Millions to Trump's alleged affair with Stormy Daniels.

"Playing the lottery is very fun, though. It's days of build-up and then it's over in a few seconds. Anyway, Trump's Stormy Daniels trial is in the news, and it just made me think."

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump in 2023 with falsifying business documents, accusing him of breaking the law by making a payment to Daniels to prevent her from speaking publicly about her claims of having an affair with him.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied having an affair with Daniels. The trial is due to start on April 15.

According to ABC News, the lucky Mega Millions winner is yet to come forward and claim the whopping prize, which won with the numbers 7, 11, 22, 29, 38 and gold Mega Ball 4. It is the fifth largest jackpot in the lottery's history.