Mega Millions – Changed the lives of how many people in Mega Million What are you waiting for
A winning Mega Millions ticket sold in Fort Myers, Florida, is offering a glimmer of hope to an area that struggles to rebuild weeks after the devastation and devastation of Hurricane Ian.
Two lucky Mega Millions tickets match all six numbers in Friday’s drawing – 9, 22, 26, 41, 44 and the Mega Millions Ball, 19 – for a total prize of $494 million.
One ticket was sold in California and the other at a 7-Eleven convenience store on Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers, the Florida Lottery announced Monday. The winners will split the jackpot for approximately $247 million.
“This win seems a little more meaningful,” Florida Lottery officials said in a statement.
According to the lottery agency, this is the third time the state has got a Mega Millions jackpot winner.
As of Tuesday morning, none of the winners had proceeded to claim the prize.
In Florida, jackpot winners have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prizes, but only 60 days after the date of the winning draw to receive a lump sum cash payment, which in this case would be $123.95 million.
In California, the winning ticket was sold at 7-Eleven on Coors Road in San Jose, California Lottery officials tweeted. The winner has one year to come forward.
7-Eleven said it was thrilled with the news
A spokesperson said in a statement, “We’ve always known that our customers nationwide are winners! We couldn’t be happier that these extra lucky customers have found their way into 7-Eleven stores in Fort Myers, FL and San Jose, CA,” a spokesperson said in a statement. won.”
According to NBC News calculations based on statements from local and state officials, the winning ticket in Florida was sold after Ian, a Category 4 hurricane, slammed the state on September 28. More than 130 deaths have been attributed to the storm. , making the hurricane Florida’s deadliest hurricane since 1935.
Fort Myers was one of the hardest-hit areas. One resident said she hopes the Mega Millions winner will donate some of the money to a local charity to help people who are still struggling to get on their feet.
“We were all affected in some way or another,” she told NBC News’ Kerry Sanders. “So that would be a good thing to do, nice gesture.”
Another resident said she was just happy that some good news was coming from the Fort Myers area.
“After Hurricane Ian and [its] devastation, it was nice to know that someone was able to win that kind of money,” she said.
State lottery officials said they expected the win could have a “positive effect” on the region.