$25 Million Ticket: Missouri Mega Millions Winner Finally Comes Forward

The $25 million Mega Millions ticket, sold in Missouri, has finally been claimed.

The ticket, with the winning numbers of 28, 32, 33, 40, 46, and the Mega Ball 10, was sold on July 31 in the southwest corner of the state at the Rio Alce convenience store, located at 441 N. Highway 59, in Noel. This marked the first time a jackpot has been won in Missouri since they launched the game in the state five years ago.

As the Inquisitr previously reported, Mary Scheve Reardon, the Missouri Lottery director, urged the ticket holder to sign the back of it and place it in a safe place until they could cash it out at the Missouri Lottery headquarters in Jefferson City. Reardon also suggested that the owner of the ticket seek out legal and financial advice before claiming their prize.

The winner had 180 days to claim their prize, which would have put the final day to claim on January 27, 2016. They can choose to take their winnings in one lump sum, or they can choose to receive the 30 annuity payments over 29 years. Since the Mega Millions came to Missouri in January 2010, 31 players have won $250,000 in prizes, with another six Missourians winning the $1 million prize.

The lottery jackpot winner turned in the $25 million ticket on August 4, but had wait 48 hours for it to pass through security, the Spreadit reports.

“We take the security of our tickets very seriously and want to ensure that that is indeed the winning ticket before we would award a prize,” Susan Goedde explained.

Raul Ahumada, 60, says he plays several different lottery games, including the Mega Millions, quite often. When he checked his ticket on August 3, he was overjoyed, thinking he had won $25,000. However, he later took the ticket to the Lottery’s Springfield office, where he was told he had actually won $25 million.

Ahumada, who currently works at a chicken processing plant, says he and his wife, Rosa, plan to “try to find a nice mountain home and stay there.” He also plans to return to Mexico to visit his family and his mom’s grave, according to the Mega Millions website. He is also considering retiring in the near future and purchasing a “nice car.”

“It’s been 15 years since he’s been back to Mexico,” his son, Raul Jr., explained.

What would you do if you were the winner of $25 million? Leave your comments below.

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