Don't You Wish? $319M Mega Millions Jackpot Winner In NY
By Bruce Hagevik, NewsRadio 830 WCCO
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) -- A New York lottery official says a winning ticket for the Mega Millions lottery jackpot worth $319 million has been sold at a variety store in Albany, N.Y.
New York Lottery spokeswoman Carolyn Hapeman says the winning jackpot ticket for Friday's drawing was sold at Coulson's News Center, located just a few blocks from the state Capitol.
Hapeman says final sales numbers raised the annuity value of the prize to $319 million, with a cash value of $202.9 million.
According to the Mega Millions website, the jackpot is the fifth-largest in the game's history. The biggest jackpot was $390 million in March 2007.
It ranks as the largest jackpot for a single winning ticket in the game's history, eclipsing the $315 million prize sold in California in November 2005.
Hapeman says the earliest the winner can claim the prize is Monday, because lottery offices are closed for the weekend.
The winning numbers in Friday's drawing were: 22-24-31-52-54, with a Mega ball of 4.
Hapeman says the holder of the winning jackpot ticket has the option of taking prize over 25 years or as a cash payout.
There were four prize winning tickets sold in Minnesota each worth $10,000.
Big jackpots spike interest in the game.
"In Minnesota, here, when the jackpot reaches $100 million is when we see sales really take off," said Debbie Hoffman of the Minnesota Lottery office.
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Over the years she has seen several big money winners at the lottery office.
"You know, Minnesotans are very grounded. They use a lot of common sense," said Hoffman.
She says several winners have used some of the money to help their community as well as themselves and their families.
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