CHICAGO (AP) 鈥� Two people who wish to remain anonymous have claimed a $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot after in a Chicago suburb, opting to take a lump sum payment of $780.5 million, lottery officials said Wednesday.
The Illinois Lottery said the prize for the July 29 drawing, , was claimed by two individuals who had agreed to split the prize if they won. The two, who followed the lead of the vast majority of winners who choose to remain anonymous, had until Sept. 27 to opt in favor of the lump sum payment, said Emilia Mazur, spokeswoman for Camelot Illinois, the private manager of the Illinois Lottery.
The Illinois Lottery said it was unable to share any information about the winners except to say that they must be absolutely 鈥渙ver the moon鈥� with their Mega Millions win. Illinois is one of at least 16 states where winners can remain anonymous.
Lottery officials said the two people have spent the past few weeks working with professional legal and financial advisors to support the claim process 鈥� something experts recommend lottery winners do.
鈥淭hese winners are now in the enviable position of deciding what to do with their newfound fortune,鈥� said Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays.
According to megamillions.com, one jackpot-winning ticket was bought at a Speedway gas station and convenience store in Des Plaines.
The winning numbers were: 13-36-45-57-67, Mega Ball: 14.
The jackpot grew so large because no one had matched the game鈥檚 six selected numbers since April 15. That鈥檚 29 consecutive draws without a jackpot winner. Because nobody has won the Mega Millions jackpot since the July 29 drawing, the jackpot now stands at an estimated $301 million.
The Associated Press
