17 In New York Win Second Prize In Record Mega Millions
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The winning Mega Millions tickets were sold in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland, but some Tri-State Area players also cashed in.
While no one won the top prize in the Tri-State, not everyone was left empty-handed. There were 17 second prize winners in New York, five in New Jersey and one in Connecticut, according to the Mega Millions website.
One of those was sold by Bob Patelle at his store near Penn Station.
"I'm feeling really good that my store got this kind of opportunity. I was hoping full prize but anyhow," he told CBS 2's Don Dahler.
Each of those winners will take home $250,000.
Scott Irvine of Teaneck managed to get a few matching numbers and came away with $11.
"Look at that, it's better than nothing," Irvine said. "I'll take it."
Others hope the winners will appreciate their new found fortune.
"I hope it's a married couple that is struggling, that's got two kids," one man told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall.
"Very lucky people," another woman said. "I hope they put it to good use."
Each winning ticket is expected to be worth more than $213 million before taxes.
The three big winners will share the record-setting $640 million jackpot. The winning numbers were 2, 4, 23, 38, 46 and the mega-ball 23.
Despite Mega Millions fever, the Maryland winner did something amazing.
"It was a quick-pick and there was only one ticket purchased by the player at that time," said Stephen Martino, director of Maryland Lottery.
WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports
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For millions of ticket buyers, the historic jackpot was nothing but a mega letdown.
"I don't know if it was worth it," Nick Mcbride of Haddonfield, N.J. told CBS 2's Ann Mercogliano. "I think if you won it was worth it."
New Yorkers spent nearly $46 million on Mega Millions tickets on Friday alone, helping to drive the jackpot even higher, jumping $100 million from the day before.
So who are the winners of history's largest jackpot? We may never know. In Maryland and Kansas the winners can anonymously claim their prize, but in Illinois the lucky player has to agree to make a public appearance to collect all those millions.
What would you do right this second if you won $213 million? Sound off below...
