No one has stepped forward to claim a $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot after the winning lottery ticket was purchased at a North Carolina gas station on Oct. 23.
According to South Carolina Lottery Laws and Regulations, the time to claim a prize is 180 days from when numbers were announced.
The winning numbers are 5-28-62-65-70 and Mega ball 5.
The winner has until April 21 to claim the prize — which amounts to nearly $900 million with a lump-sum payout — and thanks to state laws, they are allowed to remain anonymous.
The Mega Millions’ website explains that “[‘i]f a jackpot prize is not claimed within the required time limit (which varies by state), each participating state in the Mega Millions game will get back all the money that state contributed to the unclaimed jackpot. Each state uses its unclaimed lottery prizes for different purposes.”
The ticket’s owner or owners may be waiting and watching as the $1.5 billion grows before coming forward. Every day that kind of money sits in the bank it collects large amounts of interest. Waiting could mean a few extra million dollars.
It could also mean losing the whole thing. If you travelled through South Carolina and bought a ticket at a gas station, check it! And send a little over this way for reminding you! 🙂
