A New Jersey lottery player became the fortunate winner of the first Mega Millions jackpot of 2024, securing an astonishing $1.128 billion prize in the March 26 drawing for the fifth largest lottery jackpot in history. Only one lucky ticket had the perfect match. Despite the staggering sum, the winning ticket remains unclaimed over six months later, leaving both the state and lottery officials eagerly awaiting the claimant.
The ticket, sold at the ShopRite Liquor on Route 66 in Neptune, New Jersey, turned out to be a life-changing purchase for one lucky individual. With only six months left for the winner to claim their prize under New Jersey law, the suspense is mounting.
While the story of this unclaimed fortune has captured headlines, one burning question persists: Can a lottery winner claim their prize anonymously? In New Jersey, the answer is yes, providing some relief for the lucky winner who may want to avoid public scrutiny.
They will forfeit their winnings if no one claims the Mega Millions jackpot before the deadline, which is March 26, 2025.
If the jackpot isn’t claimed in time, the 45 states participating in the lottery will get back the amount they contributed.
Mega Millions drawings are on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET. Tickets must be purchased before the cut-off time, which can vary by state.