Texas lottery player wins $800 million Mega Millions jackpot

Lone Star State resident nabs 3rd largest jackpot in U.S. history

Ticket holder remains anonymous as they claim prize

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) — A lucky Texas lottery player has won the $800 million Mega Millions jackpot, according to the Texas Lottery Commission.

The winning ticket was sold at a convenience store in Conroe, Texas, north of Houston. The winner has not come forward yet.

The Mega Millions jackpot is the third largest in U.S. history, behind only the $1.58 billion Powerball jackpot won in 2016 and the $1.33 billion Mega Millions jackpot won in 2018.

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.6 million.

The Texas Lottery Commission said the winner has 180 days to claim their prize.

The winner can choose to receive the prize as a lump sum of $494 million or as an annuity paid over 29 years.

The Texas Lottery Commission said the lump sum option is the most popular choice for winners.

The winner's name has not been released. Texas law allows lottery winners to remain anonymous.

The Mega Millions jackpot had been rolling over since April 19, when a group of Michigan players won $1.05 billion.

The Mega Millions game is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The next Mega Millions drawing will be Friday, July 29.

Here are some additional details about the winning ticket:

• The winning numbers were 13, 36, 45, 57 and 67. The Mega Ball number was 14.
• The ticket was purchased at the QuickTrip convenience store located at 23500 IH-45 North in Conroe, Texas.
• The store will receive a $1 million bonus for selling the winning ticket.

What are the chances of winning the Mega Millions jackpot?

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.6 million. That means that if you played the Mega Millions every week for the rest of your life, you would have a 1 in 5.9 billion chance of winning the jackpot.

What should you do if you win the Mega Millions jackpot?

If you win the Mega Millions jackpot, the first thing you should do is sign the back of the ticket and make a copy of it.

You should then contact the Texas Lottery Commission to claim your prize.

You can choose to receive the prize as a lump sum or as an annuity paid over 29 years.

The Texas Lottery Commission recommends that you seek financial and legal advice before making any decisions about your winnings.