$980M GA Lottery Winner Claims Prize 2 Months Later

ATLANTA, GA — The winner of the massive $983 million jackpot from the Nov. 14 Mega Millions drawing has finally claimed their record-breaking prize, Georgia Lottery Corp. President and CEO Gretchen Corbin said Tuesday.

The jackpot, the largest lottery prize won in state history, was claimed Friday in Georgia, officials said.

The payout surpassed the previous record of the Oct. 23, 2024 Powerball's $478.2 million jackpot shared by two people in Buford. They each received $230.6 million, lottery officials said.

The Mega Millions winner, who decided to remain anonymous, chose the cash option of $453.6 million before taxes.

The winning ticket was purchased at Publix in Newnan, which will receive $50,000 as a bonus for selling the special ticket.

Lottery officials said the victor is a Georgia native with family members who have benefitted from the Georgia HOPE Scholarship, which the lottery funds.

Officials say the winner is a regular player to support HOPE and pre-K programs. In November, when they saw the jackpot amount on a lottery billboard, officials said the winner went and bought their lucky Quik Pik ticket.

When they heard there was a jackpot winner, officials said the person checked the Georgia Lottery website for the winning numbers and saw the "astonishing" results.

The winnings will be used for generational purposes and will benefit good causes, officials said, adding the winner is "thankful to be in a position to give."

“We are thrilled to celebrate Georgia’s record-breaking jackpot winner and their life-changing start to the new year,” Corbin said in a news release. “This historic jackpot was also significant for Georgia’s students, families and communities who benefit from HOPE and pre-K. We congratulate our winner and appreciate the support of our players and retail partners during this exciting jackpot run.”

RELATED:

• $980M Mega Millions Jackpot Won In GA, Largest In State History
• Top 10 GA Lottery Winnings Total Millions: See List

The next Mega Millions drawing will be held at 11 p.m. Tuesday with an estimated jackpot of $180 million. The game's cash option was at $81.9 million as of early Tuesday afternoon. Tickets are $5 each.

All funding from the Georgia Lottery's digital games, scratch-offs and other games benefit education in the Peach State, lottery officials said.

Online winning tickets have an expiration date of 180 days from the drawing date while instant ticket winners have 90 days from the expired date to claim prizes. Instructions on how to receive prizes are here.

Georgia takes 5.75 percent in state taxes and 24 percent in federal taxes for winnings more than $5,000.

"The (Georgia Lottery Corporation) reports to the IRS and Georgia Department of Revenue the names of winners of prizes above $600. ... Additionally, the GLC is required to check for and deduct any outstanding child support payments for prizes of $2,500 and above and student loans and state taxes for prizes of $5,000 and above, net of wager or ticket cost," lottery officials said on the Georgia Lottery website.