A lucky individual won a $1 million jackpot after buying a ticket at a supermarket, but his identity is unknown and the money has gone unclaimed.
Lottery officials are asking people to check the numbers on their tickets in a bid to find the lucky winner.
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The Powerball ticket was purchased in New Jersey last week, before the lottery drawing on Monday, July 8th.
The unknown winner purchased his ticket at a Family Food Mart in Hackettstown, according to lottery officials.
The $1 million was the second prize ticket in the drawing – the only ticket that matched five numbers, but not the Powerball.
These five winning numbers for last Monday’s second prize jackpot were: 20, 22, 31, 33 and 45.
If these were your ticket numbers, lottery officials are waiting for you to claim your $1 million – this could be your lucky day.
This unknown individual is not the only person who was unaware of his earnings.
Thousands of dollars remain unclaimed because five winners of previous Powerball drawings have not come forward, according to lottery officials.
That’s a total of $350,000 that could be lost if people don’t claim their winnings soon.
Anyone who purchased a lottery ticket in Delaware starting in September 2023 was encouraged to check their numbers.
People are given one year from the drawing date to claim their prizes, so this latest unknown winner still has plenty of time to claim their $1 million.
Last week’s $1 million prize winner isn’t the first person to win a sizable prize in New Jersey.
A couple living in New Jersey won $221 million earlier this month.
The odds of winning the jackpot are more than 292 million to 1.
A player who buys a $2 Powerball ticket has approximately a 1 in more than 11 million chance of matching five numbers and winning at least $1 million.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annual fee?
Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annual fee?
Both payment methods can affect how much money you receive from your prize.
Annuities are paid slowly in increments, usually over 30 years.
Lump sums are paid all at once, but in smaller amounts since taxes are withheld all at once. This means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam immediately. Many states also tax earnings.
Annuities can give winners time to establish the financial infrastructure necessary to receive a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the advantage of being taxed only once.
It’s also worth considering inflation when making a choice, as payments don’t adjust to the value of a dollar. This means you will likely receive less valuable money at the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
Experts have differing opinions on the possibility of take the fixed amount or take the annual fee.
Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday in 45 US states.
Last Monday’s top prize of $29 million and last Wednesday’s top prize of $40 million had no winners.
Two $50,000 third-prize tickets were sold in New Jersey for last Wednesday’s drawing.
Both tickets matched four numbers and so did the Powerball.
While last week’s lucky winner still has plenty of time to come forward and claim their winnings, lottery officials are adamant that people check their tickets.
Thousands upon thousands of people play the lottery every week in the US, but the opportunity to become a millionaire is not something many believe will happen to them.
Responsible gaming
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible player is someone who:
- Set time and monetary limits before playing
- Only games with money they can lose
- Never chase your losses
- Don’t play if you are upset, irritated or depressed
- National Problem Gaming Council – https://www.ncpgambling.org/
- Game Aware – www.begambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or go to ncpgambling.org/chat
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
