$1.58 Billion Mega Millions Winner in Florida Revealed, Ticket was Purchased from a Publix

$1.58 billion Mega Millions prize from Aug. 8, 2023, is among Top 10 largest jackpots in U.S. history.

Jacksonville Florida (December 26, 2023) — According to local media reports the winner of the $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot purchased from a Florida Publix has been revealed.

According to the Florida Lottery, Saltines Holdings LLC from Miami claimed the billion-dollar prize after its ticket from a Publix in Neptune Beach (near Jacksonville) matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, drawing. The $1.58 billion jackpot is the largest in the history of the game and the fourth biggest lottery prize in U.S. history.

On Sept. 25, the winner claimed the prize, but at the time, it was not known whether it was a one-time lump sum or annual payments. Per Florida Lottery rules, the winner had a limited time to claim prizes this large in person at lottery headquarters.

The Herald Tribune said prizes for Florida Lottery must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing, or else the ticket expires. This differs from other states − in California, winners have up to a year from the date of the drawing to claim a lottery jackpot, whether it’s the cash option or annual payments. In Florida, to claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days after the applicable draw date to claim it.

The $1.58 billion Mega Millions winner also had a limited time to remain anonymous in Florida. Per Florida Lottery rules, it is public record to know the identities of winners here, though lottery lawyers and experts have said there are ways to remain anonymous.

SOURCE: Times-Union / Herald Tribune.