Mystery South Carolina Lottery Winner Claims Largest Jackpot Payout in U.S. History

Mystery South Carolina Lottery Winner Claims Largest Jackpot Payout in U.S. History

Ending months of speculation, a South Carolina resident has finally come forward to claim the $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot from last October— the second-largest lottery in United States history.

According to a statement from the South Carolina Education Lottery Commission, the anonymous person submitting the claim has chosen the cash option, meaning they’ll take home a one-time payment of nearly $878,000,000—the largest jackpot payout to a single winner in U.S. history.

“We are delighted that the winner is a South Carolinian and has come forward to claim this remarkable prize,” said Hogan Brown, the commission’s executive director. “We respect the winner’s decision to remain anonymous, and we will honor the winner’s wishes.”

The winning ticket was sold between October 20 and 23 of last year at KC Mart in Simpsonville, a suburb of Greenville. The mysterious winner had until April 19 to claim the prize.

“The winner marvels at how every decision made that day brought the winner to the store, at that very moment, to make the Quick Pick Mega Millions lottery ticket purchase,” the commission said. “The winner even allowed a fellow customer to make a Mega Millions lottery ticket purchase in front of the winner while in line at the store. A simple act of kindness led to an amazing outcome.”

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KC Mart will receive $50,000 for selling the winning ticket, and the state of South Carolina will benefit from $61 million in income taxes from the winner.

Congrats to all!