Hitting It Big
Published 4:57 pm Tuesday, May 21, 2013
FARMVILLE – Friday's Mega Millions drawing has created quite a stir in the Farmville area.
Two tickets matched all six numbers with one of those tickets purchased at Food Lion. The second was purchased in New Jersey.
Lottery spokesperson John Hagerty had no word on the winner Tuesday morning.
“It's still kind of early, really,” he told The Herald. “…Yesterday was the first day that they…whoever has that ticket, could have claimed. It's not unusual for the winner of a prize this size to take a few weeks before coming forward and to use that time to get their financial affairs in order and to meet with financial professionals.”
And it's a big one. The jackpot-according to a release from Lottery officials, has an estimated total of $198 million-which means the ticket holders would receive roughly $99 million each.
The winning numbers were 11-15-35-43-49 and the Mega Ball number 41.
There are 45 U.S. lotteries that participate in Mega Millions, including 43 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. The Virginia winner has 180 days from the drawing to claim the prize. They can either take the full $99 million in 26 annual payments or a one-time cash option of approximately $73.3 million before taxes.
Meanwhile, area folks are waiting to find out who the area's next multi-millionaire will be.
In Virginia, the Lottery is not allowed to give out prizes secretly, Hagerty cited.
“So it will definitely be known when this winner or winners comes forward,” he said.
It is Virginia's 8th Mega Millions jackpot win. Virginia had its first Powerball jackpot win in February, when Dave and Nancy Honeywell of Fredericksburg claimed a $217 million jackpot.