UPDATE @ 7:35 a.m.: Mega Millions has reported the jackpot won in South Carolina was $1.537 billion, not $1.6 billion. It was just short of the record of all lotteries.
UPDATE @ 5:20 a.m.: Mega Millions confirmed that one winning ticket was sold in South Carolina.
UPDATE @ 1:15 a.m. (Oct. 24): The South Carolina Lottery website is reporting that one Mega Millions jackpot-winning ticket was sold in the state. Not all states have reported their results.
UPDATE @ 11:03 p.m.:
The winning numbers drawn for tonight’s record $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot are: 5-28-62-65-70 and Mega ball 5.
EARLIER REPORT
Tonight’s jackpot marks the largest lottery prize in U.S. history.
The game’s website briefly shutdown Monday as the Mega Millions “mania” intensified.
People all over the Miami Valley have been standing in line to buy their Mega Millions ticket.
Some people tried to increase their luck and bought hundreds of tickets
“We are seeing customers come in and spend $700 on tickets,” said Kim Smith, a store clerk at Stan’s One Stop Shop. “I think last time it was up pretty high I had a couple of customers come in and spend $500.”
With the jackpot sitting at $1.6 billion, people who said they have never played the lottery said it’s too much money to ignore.
It also has people considering what they’d do with the winnings.
“I’d give it to a lot of friends.” said Sonny Early of Xenia. “And I will probably end up with more friends than I thought I had.”
If you do win, you can take a 29-year payout or take a lump sum of over $905 million.
Experts said that winners should immediately get a financial advisor and lawyer to make sure they completely understand their options.
Make sure to tune in tonight at 11 p.m. for those winning Mega Millions numbers.
