Summary
- A single ticket matched all the winning numbers for the $349 million Mega Millions jackpot on March 25.
- Earlier this week, the top prize winners visited the Illinois Lottery to claim their winnings.
- The winners, choosing the nickname "Blessed," remained anonymous, as their real identities were not made public.
In late March, a single ticket sold in Illinois matched all the winning numbers to secure the Mega Millions jackpot, which was estimated at $349 million. The lucky winners have now claimed their life-changing prize from the March 25, 2025 Mega Millions drawing.
Lucky winners in Illinois claim one of the largest jackpots in the state
On Wednesday, the exceptionally fortunate winners visited the Illinois Lottery to claim their astounding jackpot prize. They bought their winning ticket at Casey’s General Store, located at 70 S. Somonauk Road in Cortland, Illinois. As a result of selling the jackpot-winning ticket, the retailer received a $500,000 bonus. This recent $349 million Mega Millions jackpot is the fourth to be won in Illinois in recent years. In June 2021, a Mega Millions player won $56 million with a ticket purchased at a gas station in Crestwood. Then, in July 2022, another incredibly lucky player hit the unbelievable $1.34 billion Mega Millions jackpot, the largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois, at a gas station in Des Plaines. More recently, in June 2024, an online player bought a ticket and won $552 million, marking the largest prize ever won by an online lottery player nationwide.
A single Quick Pick ticket brings the top jackpot
The winners of the $349 million Mega Millions jackpot have understandably chosen to remain anonymous. They opted for the pseudonym Blessed, suggesting that their real identities may remain a mystery indefinitely. Speaking to lottery officials, the lucky winners shared their excitement: We took a chance and purchased a single Quick Pick ticket. We’re overjoyed and feel extremely blessed. We plan to use this money to do good, making it a gift that keeps on giving. The sale of Mega Millions tickets in Illinois provides essential funding for education. During this jackpot period alone, ticket sales approached $24 million, with over $9 million funneled back into the Common School Fund, benefiting K-12 education across the state. This $349 million jackpot is a historic win for Illinois, especially given the daunting odds of securing the top prize in Mega Millions, which are 1 in 290,472,336. These odds remain unchanged regardless of the jackpot size or the number of players. Meanwhile, the odds of winning any prize in the game are 1 in 23.
