The Florida winner, who claimed her prize with a trust, told Powerball that she had been playing the same number for years before it finally paid off. Winning tickets were sold in California, Florida and Tennessee, making the annuitized amount for each winning ticket nearly $528.8 million. Her lawyer announced that she will be donating to a number of charities, including Hurricane Florence relief. As for the other decision of whether to take the annuity or the one-time lump-sum payment, the winner went for the cash payment of nearly $878,000,000. She did take advantage of the option to remain anonymous, asking through her lawyer for that decision to be respected.
She did not come forward to claim the cash prize until March 4, just a handful of weeks before the deadline to claim. The lucky winner lives in South Carolina, one of only a handful of states where you can choose to remain anonymous and still claim your winnings. Estimated jackpot: $1.537 billion (Mega Millions)
Nine other tickets scored either $1 million or $2 million by picking every number except the Powerball.Ģ. Before taxes, the winner will have the choice between a one-time lump sum of $477 million or an estimated annuity of $768.4 million paid out over 29 years, according to the Powerball.
