TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) – The winner of the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot drawn in March has finally come forward, lottery officials announced Monday.
A ShopRite in Neptune Township sold the winning ticket for the billion-dollar Mega Millions jackpot in March, but the winner, whose numbers matched 07, 11, 22, 29, 38, the Gold Mega Ball 04, and a multiplier of 02, only came forward nearly nine months later.
The prize, one of the largest in Mega Millions history, had a cash value of $537.5 million before taxes, according to the New Jersey Lottery.
While the winner has chosen to remain anonymous, they have begun the process of claiming their prize, exercising their rights under a 2020 New Jersey law that allows lottery winners to maintain their privacy indefinitely.
Lottery winners in New Jersey have up to one year from the drawing date to file a claim. Officials note that it’s not unusual for winners of such large sums to take their time before coming forward, often seeking financial and legal advice.
This $1.13 billion prize ranks as the fifth-highest jackpot in the game’s nearly 30-year history. Other top prizes include the record $1.602 billion won in Florida in August 2023, a $1.537 billion win in South Carolina in 2018, and jackpots over $1.3 billion claimed in Maine and Illinois in 2023 and 2022.
The Monmouth County ShopRite that sold the winning ticket received a $30,000 bonus commission.
For those dreaming of their own chance at fortune, another massive jackpot is available. Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing has climbed to $944 million, which would rank as the seventh-largest in the game’s history.