Florida Player Claims Record $800 Million Mega Millions Jackpot
WHO:
Forbes - A Mega Millions ticket buyer from Florida won the jackpot.
WHAT:
Forbes - The winner can choose between a payout of $800 million in 30 annual installments or a one-time cash prize of $344.2 million.
WPEC - Florida has now won or shared six Mega Millions jackpots since joining the game in 2013.
WPEC - The jackpot had grown during 38 consecutive drawings since the last Mega Millions jackpot was won in March.
WPEC - During that run, nearly 10.9 million winning tickets were sold, paying more than $273 million in non-jackpot prizes.
WPEC - Those prizes included 18 second-tier wins worth between $2 million and $5 million and 263 third-tier prizes worth between $20,000 and $100,000.
USA Today - The jackpot amount of $800 million is the largest lottery prize of 2026 so far.
USA Today - The winning ticket was sold on July 28, 2026.
WPEC - The jackpot has reset to an estimated $50 million for the next drawing.
WPEC - The cash option for the next Mega Millions drawing is approximately $21.5 million.
USA Today - The jackpot has reset to $50 million for the next drawing.
WPEC - The cash option for the next Mega Millions drawing is approximately $21.5 million.
WPEC - The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $663 million, with a cash value of $290.4 million for the upcoming drawing.
WPEC - The winning ticket was sold at a WAWA at 14510 SR 70 E. in Bradenton, Florida.
WPEC - Tuesday’s drawing produced 645,993 winning tickets at all prize levels in addition to the jackpot winner.
WPEC - Two tickets matched all five white balls; one ticket sold in New York won $3 million with a 3X multiplier, while another ticket from Illinois won $5 million with a 5X multiplier.
WPEC - Fifteen tickets matched four white balls and the Mega Ball, including two $20,000 winners and one $30,000 winner sold in Florida.
WPEC - During the 38 consecutive drawings since the last Mega Millions jackpot was won, nearly 10.9 million winning tickets were sold, paying more than $273 million in non-jackpot prizes.
WPEC - The overall odds of winning any prize in the Mega Millions are 1 in 23.
USA Today - The $800 million Mega Millions jackpot was won after being up for grabs for over four months.
USA Today - The jackpot is the third Mega Millions jackpot win of the year and the tenth-largest jackpot in the game's history.
USA Today - The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, July 31, at 11 p.m. ET, with the jackpot resetting to $50 million.
Forbes - The Powerball jackpot has risen to $663 million.
Forbes - The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 290.4 million, which is slightly better than the Powerball's odds of 1 in 292.2 million.
Forbes - The biggest completed Powerball jackpot of the year so far is a $250.8 million prize won by a lottery player from Arkansas.
Forbes - The jackpot amount is $800 million, the largest lottery prize of 2026 so far.
Forbes - The winning numbers drawn were 34, 48, 49, 59, 70, and gold Mega Ball 12.
Forbes - The winner can choose between a payout of $800 million in 30 annual installments or a one-time cash prize of $344.2 million.
Forbes - If the winner opts for the lump-sum payment, the amount will be reduced to approximately $261.6 million after a 24% federal withholding tax.
Forbes - After applying a federal marginal tax rate of up to 37%, the winner's take-home amount could be around $216.8 million.
Forbes - If the winner chooses the installment option, annual payments of about $26.7 million would be reduced to approximately $16.8 million after taxes.
NY Post - The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 290,472,336.
WHERE:
Forbes - The winning ticket was purchased in Florida.
WHEN:
WPEC - The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, July 31, at 11 p.m. ET.
Forbes - The winning numbers were drawn on a Tuesday night.
Forbes - The next Powerball drawing is scheduled for Wednesday night.
WHY:
Forbes - The article does not provide specific reasons for the lottery's popularity or the winner's choice of payout.
HOW:
USA Today - The winner can choose to receive an immediate payment followed by annual checks, each 5% larger than the previous year.
USA Today - The winner will have the option to receive an immediate payment followed by annual checks, each 5% larger than the previous year.
Forbes - The Mega Millions jackpot was won through a lottery ticket purchase, with the winning numbers drawn in a random selection process.
(UPDATED July 30, 2026 05:54 UTC)
The Mega Millions jackpot has reached an impressive height, offering the winner a choice between a payout of $800 million in 30 annual installments or a one-time cash prize of $344.2 million. Florida has now won or shared six Mega Millions jackpots since joining the game in 2013, and during the last 38 drawings, nearly 10.9 million winning tickets were sold, resulting in over $273 million in non-jackpot prizes. The next chance to win this massive jackpot will be during the drawing scheduled for Friday, July 31, at 11 p.m. ET.
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(UPDATED July 29, 2026 22:23 UTC)
The jackpot amount of $800 million is the largest lottery prize of 2026 so far, with the winning ticket sold on July 28, 2026. Following this massive win, the jackpot has reset to an estimated $50 million for the next drawing, with a cash option of approximately $21.5 million. The winner has the choice to receive an immediate payment followed by annual checks that increase by 5% each year.
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(UPDATED July 29, 2026 21:19 UTC)
The Powerball jackpot has soared to an estimated $663 million, with a cash option of $290.4 million available for the next drawing. Meanwhile, the Mega Millions jackpot has reset to $50 million, offering a cash option of approximately $21.5 million. Players are gearing up for these exciting opportunities as the next drawings approach.
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(UPDATED July 29, 2026 19:26 UTC)
A winning Mega Millions ticket was sold at a WAWA in Bradenton, Florida, marking a significant moment in the latest drawing, which produced 645,993 winning tickets at various prize levels. In addition to the jackpot winner, two tickets matched all five white balls, with one sold in New York winning $3 million and another in Illinois taking home $5 million. Over the past 38 consecutive drawings since the last jackpot win, nearly 10.9 million winning tickets have been sold, resulting in more than $273 million paid out in non-jackpot prizes.
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(UPDATED July 29, 2026 16:24 UTC)
The $800 million Mega Millions jackpot has been won after being up for grabs for over four months, marking the third Mega Millions jackpot win of the year and the tenth-largest in the game's history. The winner can choose to receive an immediate payment followed by annual checks that increase by five percent each year. The next Mega Millions drawing is set for Friday, July 31, at 11 p.m. ET, with the jackpot resetting to $50 million.
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(UPDATED July 29, 2026 15:38 UTC)
The Powerball jackpot has surged to an impressive $663 million, making headlines across the nation. Meanwhile, the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot stand at 1 in 290.4 million, which is a bit better than Powerball's odds of 1 in 292.2 million. So far this year, the largest Powerball jackpot was a $250.8 million prize claimed by a lucky player from Arkansas.
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(UPDATED July 29, 2026 07:56 UTC)
A lucky ticket buyer from Florida has won the Mega Millions jackpot, which amounts to an impressive $800 million, marking the largest lottery prize of 2026 so far. The winning numbers drawn were 34, 48, 49, 59, 70, and gold Mega Ball 12, and the winner has the option to take the full amount in 30 annual installments or a one-time cash prize of $344.2 million, which would be reduced to around $216.8 million after taxes if chosen. The next Powerball drawing is set for Wednesday night, as the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot stand at 1 in 290,472,336.