Six months after the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot was won, the New Jersey Lottery is still waiting for the lucky ticket holder to come forward. The winning ticket, sold at ShopRite Liquor #781 on Route 66 in Neptune Township, matched all six numbers in the March 26, 2024, drawing: 07, 11, 22, 29, 38, and the Gold Mega Ball 04.
Despite the excitement of being the sole winner of this life-changing prize, worth a cash payout of $537.5 million before taxes, the ticket remains unclaimed. With a looming deadline of March 26, 2025, the window for the winner to collect their winnings is slowly closing.
It’s not uncommon for winners of large jackpots to delay their claims. In some cases, winners take time to seek financial and legal advice, ensuring they are well-prepared for the life-changing implications of such a windfall. However, the New Jersey Lottery is urging players to double-check their tickets as time is running out.
This jackpot is the fifth-largest in Mega Millions history, making it a highly anticipated prize. The fact that it has gone unclaimed for half a year has left locals and lottery officials puzzled. “I’m surprised. This is a big deal,” said James Carey, Executive Director of the New Jersey Lottery. He speculated that the winner might be taking their time to get organized but emphasized the importance of contacting lottery officials soon.
“Maybe they’re getting their ducks in a row; maybe they’re getting their affairs in order. We don’t know what’s going on here,” Carey said.
Legal and financial considerations
In New Jersey, winners have the option to remain anonymous indefinitely, thanks to a 2020 state law. This gives winners the freedom to enjoy their winnings without public scrutiny. However, they still need to disclose their identity to the lottery for verification and tax purposes.
“Players claiming lottery prizes worth $600.00 or more must still provide their identity to lottery officials to claim a prize,” the state lottery said in a press release. “The New Jersey Lottery also shares the identity of winners with other state agencies, and claims are reviewed for collection of unpaid obligations such as child support, student loan arrears, and back taxes.”
Lottery officials recommend that winners seek professional advice before stepping forward. “We strongly encourage the winner to sign their ticket, make copies, and consult with legal and financial advisors before contacting the New Jersey Lottery,” a June press release stated. Winners have two options for claiming their prize: a lump sum of $537.5 million before taxes or an annuity paid over 30 years.
What happens if the prize is unclaimed?
If the winner does not come forward by the March 2025 deadline, the prize will expire, and the money will be returned to the participating states. Each state will receive a portion of the unclaimed funds proportional to its contribution to the prize pool. In New Jersey, state law requires at least 30% of unclaimed prize money to go toward state revenue, although recent years have seen the lottery retain less than 10%.
