Mega Millions winner Ira Curry from Georgia stepped forward to claim her half of the US$648 million jackpot prize in the latest draw on Wednesday, a few hours after she had discovered she'd won.
Curry, who currently lives in Stone Mountain, claimed that she had used the birth dates of her family members as the numbers in her winning ticket. She was one of two identified winners of the jackpot prize, so far the second largest in Mega Millions history. Lottery officials from Georgia confirmed that Curry's ticket had been "a last-minute purchase" in a Gateway Newstand in Atlanta.
"She was driving to work, she had the radio on, and she knew she had the Mega ball number (7). Her daughter quickly looked up the winning numbers,'' shared Debbie Alford, Director of Georgia Lottery. "Between joyful tears and laughter on the daughter's part, she relayed to her mother that she'd won."
Curry, who was not able to announce her win personally in a press briefing, is set to split a Mega Millions payout valued at around US$346.7 million with another winner in San Jose, California. Alford explained that Curry will be receiving US$120 million after Georgia state and federal taxes have been taken from the sum.
Alford shared that she was amazed Curry had stepped forward as a winner so quickly. More often than not, jackpot winners may delay their claim for days or weeks. In Georgia, winners have been said to surface 180 days after their win had been announced. The other winning ticket holder, who has not yet come forward to announce his or her win, has a whole year to collect their half of the jackpot.
Alford did not disclose any personal details about the Mega Millions winner or her family. One person who received a telephone call at a phone listing for Curry answered, "We are not interested in any publicity, thank you for calling," before hanging up on the caller.
Young Soo Lee, owner of the store where Curry had bought the winning ticket, stated her happiness and excitement for Curry's win. Soo Lee's store is set to receive US$1 million as a bonus for selling the winning ticket.tickets are sold.
The next Mega Millions draw is scheduled for Friday, December 20 at 11 p.m. ET where the expected jackpot prize is US$15 million.
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