The first winning Mega Millions ticket of 2015 has been drawn, and the lucky winner is from the state of Illinois.
According to a press release , the $270 million win on Friday marks the 12th time that somebody has won the Mega Millions jackpot in the month of January. It is also the first time someone from Illinois has won the jackpot since May 4, 2012, and it’s the eighth time that someone from the state has won the Mega Millions drawing.
The winning numbers from the January 16, 2015, drawing are 26, 32, 44, 45, 58, and the Mega Ball number is 11. According to the Chicago Tribune , the person has not come forward to claim his or her Mega Millions prize.
In addition to the grand prize ticket being drawn in Illinois, two $1 million winning tickets were also drawn. One of those was from Florida, and the other was from New York.
Illinois Lottery spokesman Mike Lang said the winning ticket was sold at Bucky’s Express in Glendale Heights, a suburb of Chicago. Lang added that the $270 million jackpot is the largest amount anyone from the state has won, and the winner has one year to claim his or her earnings.
The store that sold the winning Mega Millions ticket will receive a $500,000, according to the Chicago Daily Herald . Employees at the store wouldn’t comment on the winning lottery ticket, but one customer, Mary Lou Gonzalez, said she has purchased tickets from that convenience store in the past. She was shocked when she discovered that the winning ticket was sold there.
“You’re killing me. I can’t believe it. Why can’t it be me?”
Another customer, Valerie Goff, was happy to hear that someone won the Mega Millions jackpot at the convenience store.
“I think it’s amazing. Hopefully that person will put some of the money back in the community.”
Lottery spokeswoman Elizabeth Leonard noted it’s uncertain how long it will take for the person to reveal himself or herself as the Mega Millions winner.
“It just depends. Some, they wait a couple weeks. Others, they claim it right away.”
The previous Mega Millions winner was Harold Diamond, a retired principal from New York. As previously reported by the Inquisitr , Diamond won $326 million , which was the largest payout for that state. Diamond’s winning ticket was selected during the November 4, 2014, drawing, but he was just recently announced as the winner from that drawing.
The next Mega Millions drawing will take place on January 20, and will be worth $15 million.
[Image via Twitter ]
