Expiration of $36 Million Mega Millions Ticket in Jacksonville, Florida, Highlights Lottery Odds

The excitement of a potential $36 million Mega Millions jackpot turned into disappointment as the deadline for claiming the prize expired without a winner stepping forward.

The ticket, purchased at a Publix supermarket in Jacksonville, Florida, went unclaimed before the 180-day deadline, leaving the grand prize untouched.

Lost Opportunity
The winning ticket could have been redeemed after the Mega Millions draw on August 15, 2023, which revealed the numbers 18, 39, 42, 57, 63 for the white balls and 7 for the Mega Ball.

Unfortunately, the ticketholder failed to come forward in time, missing out on the substantial windfall.

Odds of Winning
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are approximately 1 in 302.6 million, making it a rare and coveted prize.

To put this into perspective, the odds of being bitten by a shark are 1 in 11.5 million, while the odds of giving birth to identical quadruplets are 1 in 700,000.

Unclaimed Prize Allocation
Florida law dictates that 80 percent of unclaimed prize funds from expired tickets be directed to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, benefiting public schools, universities, and scholarships.

The remaining 20 percent is returned to the prize pool for future awards or used for special promotions.

Recent Winnings
Interestingly, the unclaimed ticket was sold just a week after another lucky individual won a staggering $1.58 billion Mega Millions prize in Florida.

The winning ticket was purchased at a Publix in Neptune Beach, which received a $100,000 bonus for selling the ticket.

Current Jackpot
As of the latest update, the Mega Millions jackpot stands at $457 million on an annuitized basis, with a one-time cash payout option of $216.8 million.

The allure of such significant winnings continues to captivate players across the country.

Historical Mega Millions Jackpots

1. $1.580 billion – 8/8/2023 – Florida
2. $1.537 billion – 10/23/2018 – South Carolina
3. $1.348 billion – 1/13/2023 – Maine
4. $1.337 billion – 7/29/2022 – Illinois
5. $1.050 billion – 1/22/2021 – Michigan
6. $656 million – 3/30/2012 – Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
7. $648 million – 12/17/2013 – California, Georgia
8. $543 million – 7/24/2018 – California
9. $536 million – 7/8/2016 – Indiana
10. $533 million – 3/30/2018 – New Jersey

Source: Mega Millions

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