Mega Millions player narrowly misses $435 million jackpot by one number – but pockets $1 million as officials search for winner

A LOTTERY player lost more than $400 million but still walked away with a considerable sum.

The individual won $1 million after missing the jackpot by just one number.

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The Mega Millions ticket was sold in New York before Tuesday’s drawing, the Charlotte Observant reported.

The winner has not yet come forward to claim their prize and lottery officials have asked players to check their tickets.

The winning ticket was sold at a gas station in Shirley, about an hour’s drive from New York City.

He matched five numbers, but not the Mega Ball draw.

No one won Tuesday’s $435 million grand prize, meaning the jackpot increased to about $464 million for Friday’s drawing.

The cash option for this whopping amount is approximately $228.2 million.

The winning numbers on Tuesday were 34, 55, 59, 65 and 70 – the Mega Ball was 12.

More than 864,000 other tickets sold in the U.S. won prizes ranging from $2 to $40,000 as of Tuesday, according to lottery officials.

The Mega Millions jackpot has not been claimed since a player from Illinois won the $552 million prize on June 4.

CLOSE SHAVE

This isn’t the first time a lottery player has narrowly missed out on the jackpot prize.

A player in the state of Washington came close to pocketing a whopping $358 million.

The guy missed his chance to become a multimillionaire earlier this month, but still went home with a whopping $1 million.

Another player in San Francisco it was also just one number away from earning $154 million.

The winning ticket was purchased at a supermarket last month and the individual won a prize of nearly $1 million.

In May, a South Carolina Powerball player was one number away from winning $1 billion.

“I was stunned,” he said, after discovering he had still won the grand sum of $1 million.

HOW TO PLAY

To win the Mega Millions jackpot, players must match all five white balls and the gold Megaball.

The odds of winning the jackpot are one in over 300 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 create the financial infrastructure needed 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 get the lump sum or take the annual fee.

Tickets cost R$2 and can be purchased on the day of the draw.

Draws are held every Tuesday and Friday night.

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