One single ticket in the state of Florida is the lucky ticket for an $800 million payout, but the name of the person who won the money is unknown. In a drawing of Mega Millions held on July 28, 2026, the biggest Mega Millions jackpot was created the tenth biggest in the whole game’s history and people went crazy over the Internet, checking their tickets and wondering who the lucky person could be.
The lucky numbers of the drawing were 34, 48, 49, 59, 70 and the Mega Ball number 12. One single ticket with all the matching numbers has been found and won the largest jackpot for quite a while. “The July 28 drawing produced one single jackpot-winning ticket in Florida, worth an estimated $800 million ($344.2 million cash),” reported Mega Millions. The jackpot had been rolling over through 38 consecutive draws from the last jackpot of $60 million in Ohio dated to March 17.
The unidentified winner now faces a high-stakes decision. Take the full $800 million paid in 30 annual installments that rise 5 percent each year, or cash out immediately for about $344.2 million before taxes. Florida imposes no state income tax on lottery winnings, a clear advantage over many other states. Federal taxes still apply. A 24 percent mandatory withholding would leave roughly $261.6 million from the lump sum, with the final net potentially falling into the $217–262 million range depending on the winner’s overall tax situation. The winner has 180 days to claim the prize, and Florida law lets many jackpot winners stay anonymous for a limited period.
Another two players were also winners of multimillion-dollar prizes in the mega jackpot lottery, also on the evening of the draw. An Illinois ticket has the winning combination of five white balls plus the 5X multiplier for $5 million. A New York ticket did the same with a 3X multiplier for $3 million. The chances of winning the lottery are astronomical: 1 in 290,472,336.
The new prize is right there next to the largest-ever Mega Millions win in the state, which was a 1.602 billion jackpot in August this year. It is the sixth time that the state has won or shared the jackpot since joining the lottery in 2013. Furthermore, it is the third jackpot win for the state of Florida in 2026.
Moreover, beyond the massive jackpots is the educational reminder about the importance of responsible play. Players are reminded to have their winning ticket signed by someone, seek professional help, and maintain privacy. Additionally, for each player who has purchased a ticket, the draw was yet another lesson in both the appeal and challenge of a game.
