Georgia Ticket Wins Nearly $1 Billion Mega Millions Jackpot

ATLANTA, Georgia — A single Mega Millions ticket purchased at a Publix in Newnan, Georgia, won a staggering estimated $980 million jackpot, making it the eighth largest prize in the game’s history. The lottery announced the win on Saturday.

The winning ticket matched all six numbers drawn on Friday night, which were 1, 8, 11, 12, 57, and the Mega Ball 7. This win marks the fifth time the Mega Millions jackpot has been won in 2024.

According to lottery officials, this jackpot is the largest ever won in Georgia. The winner has the choice of taking a cash lump sum of $452.2 million or opting for an annuity paid out in 30 payments, increasing 5% each year.

The jackpot has been growing since it was last won on June 27, 2024, with a ticket sold in Virginia for $348 million. In that period, there were 40 drawings and nearly 14.3 million winning tickets at various prize levels.

Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium, noted, “$980 million is the largest jackpot that’s been won since the Mega Millions game changed back in April.” The game raised ticket prices from $2 to $5 to accelerate jackpot growth.

Drawings for the Mega Millions take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time. The record jackpot remains the $1.602 billion Mega Millions prize won in August 2023.