A successful Mega Tens of millions ticket offered in Fort Myers, Florida, is providing a glimmer of hope to an space nonetheless struggling to rebuild weeks after Hurricane Ian unleashed a fury of destruction and devastation.
Two fortunate Mega Tens of millions tickets matched all six numbers in Friday’s drawing — 9, 22, 26, 41, 44 and the Mega Ball 19 — for a prize totaling $494 million.
One ticket was offered in California and the opposite at a 7-Eleven comfort retailer on Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers, the Florida Lottery introduced Monday. The winners will cut up the jackpot for about $247 million every.
“This win feels barely extra significant,” Florida lottery officers mentioned in an announcement.
That is the third time the state had a Mega Tens of millions jackpot winner, based on the lottery division.
As of Tuesday morning, neither winner had stepped ahead to say the prize.
In Florida, jackpot winners have 180 days from the date of the drawing to say their prize, however solely 60 days after the successful draw date to gather the lump-sum money fee, which on this case could be $123.95 million.
In California, the successful ticket was offered at a 7-Eleven on Kooser Street in San Jose, lottery officers mentioned in a tweet. The winner has one yr to return ahead.
7-Eleven mentioned they’re thrilled by the information.
“We’ve at all times recognized our clients throughout the nation are winners! We couldn’t be happier that these further fortunate clients received in 7-Eleven shops in Fort Myers, FL and San Jose, CA,” a spokesperson mentioned in an announcement.
The win in Florida comes weeks after the Class 4 hurricane slammed into the state on Sept. 28. Greater than 130 deaths have been attributed to the storm, based on an NBC Information depend based mostly on statements by native and state authorities, making the storm Florida’s deadliest hurricane since 1935.
Fort Myers was one of many hardest-hit areas. One resident mentioned she hopes the Mega Tens of millions winner will give a number of the cash to a neighborhood charity to assist individuals nonetheless struggling to get on their toes.
“We have been all affected ultimately,” she mentioned to NBC’s Kerry Sanders. “So it might be a pleasant factor to do, good gesture.”
One other resident mentioned she was simply joyful that there was some excellent news coming from the Fort Myers space.
“After Hurricane Ian and [its] devastations, it is sort of good to know that anyone was in a position to win that sort of cash,” she mentioned.
Lottery officers within the state mentioned they hope the winnings may “have a constructive affect” on the realm.
