History was made in the North American state of South Carolina as a lottery player won the Mega Millions lotto worth ₦540,000,000,000 ($1,500,000,000) and opted for the one time payment option of ₦316,002,284,640 ($877,784,124).
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The lucky ticket was purchased at a KC Mart convenience store in Simpsonville, with shop owner C.J. Patel telling CBS News at the time that such an event was indeed “good for the community.” However, over the nearly six months that have passed since the winning numbers were announced, some in the region were likely starting to think this Mega Millions would lay unclaimed all the way through the upcoming April deadline.
According to a statement from The South Carolina Education Lottery Commission executive director Hogan Brown, The State of South Carolina will get the sum of $61 million that will be collected in income taxes from the winner while the KC Mart in Simpsonville, will receive $50,000 for selling the claimed winning ticket. He further stated that the winner wished to remain anonymous, and that they “will honor the winner’s wishes.”
As the commission noted in their announcement, the winner’s decision to take a one time payout of ₦316 billion ($877 million) makes this the largest jackpot payout to a single winner in United States history.
