Officials announced Wednesday that the lucky individual who won the mind-blowing $1600 billion Mega Millions jackpot in August has finally claimed his money.
Lottery officials said in an email that under newly implemented legislation in Florida, the identity of the winning individual is kept secret for a period of 90 days from the date the prize was claimed, specifically Sept. 25. They did not disclose whether the winner opted for the lump sum payment or the annuity, and they declined to reveal the approximate amount of the lump sum.
Winners in Florida must carefully acknowledge their fortune by collecting the entire sum within a span of 60 days after the draw. However, a different route is manifested for those who opt for an annuity approach, which allows them a more generous timeframe of up to 180 days. In such cases, the amount will be disbursed gradually, over 30 annual installments. It is pertinent to note that this incredible win is subject to federal taxes, although one peculiar aspect worth celebrating regarding the jackpot is that Florida, being the state in question, does not impose any state income tax on its jubilant beneficiaries.
On August 8, luck smiled on the resident of a humble town called Neptune Beach. At the renowned Publix supermarket, located on the Atlantic coast near Jacksonville, fate had a miraculous event in store. A ticket sold within those humble walls had the power to transform the life of its holder. The winning numbers, engraved on them, were 13, 19, 20, 32, 33, and the Mega Ball bore the number 14.
