Ticketholder wins jackpot of more than $1.3bn in US Mega Millions lottery
A ticketholder has won the US Mega Millions jackpot of $1.28bn (£1.05bn) – the third biggest lottery prize in the country.
Officials said the single winning ticket was bought in Illinois.
The numbers drawn on Friday night were 13-36-45-57-67, with a Mega Ball of 14.
The jackpot grew to such an astronomical figure after 29 consecutive draws without a winner.
The jackpot is the biggest lottery prize in nearly four years.
The winner can either claim the $1.28bn prize in the annuity option, which spreads the amount over 30 annual payments, or a cash option for an estimated $747.2m (£613.3m). Nearly all jackpot winners choose the cash option.
Those who opt for the full prize could eventually afford to buy the world’s largest yacht twice over. The 590ft megayacht belongs to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.
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The odds of winning the jackpot were one in 302.5 million.
The UK’s largest ever lottery win was £195m – claimed earlier this month.
