TiYahna Bambaata, a New Jersey liquor store clerk, sold the $1.13 billion Mega Millions ticket to an unknown customer. The winner manually selected their numbers, which contributed to their winning the jackpot. Bambaata, who has no idea who the winner is, shared her excitement about someone from her hometown winning. She has been working at the store for three years and is also the niece of Neptune Township Mayor Tassie York.
The $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot had been growing for 15 weeks with 31 consecutive drawings without a winner. The previous jackpot was split between two men in California back in December. This latest win is the 24th winning Mega Millions ticket sold in New Jersey, and only the sixth jackpot to surpass $1 billion. It is the fifth largest jackpot in the history of the game. Despite the significant win, the winner has not come forward yet and may choose to remain anonymous due to a law allowing winners to do so in New Jersey.
The winner of the Mega Millions jackpot can choose to receive the $1.13 billion in annual installments over 30 years, or take a one-time lump sum of approximately $536.6 million. The odds of winning the Mega Millions are incredibly slim at 1 in 302,575,350. Regardless of the anonymity of the winner, ShopRite Liquor received a $30,000 bonus check for selling the winning ticket. ShopRite president Richard Saker announced that the money from the bonus check would be donated to charity.
Bambaata, a 27-year-old college student studying to become a physician’s assistant, is thrilled about the win even though she does not know who the winner is. She recalls several people coming in and out of the store the night the winning ticket was sold, but she cannot remember who the lucky buyer was. With the large sum of money at stake, New Jersey Lottery Executive Director James A. Carey Jr. advised the winner to sign the back of the ticket, take a picture of it, make a copy, and put it in a safe place to secure their prize.
The excitement surrounding the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot win has spread throughout the town where the winning ticket was sold, with residents eagerly waiting to find out who the lucky winner is. Bambaata expressed her happiness at having played a part in selling the winning ticket and being witness to such a life-changing moment for someone in her community. The win marks a significant moment in the history of the Mega Millions lottery game, showcasing the possibility of life-altering victories that can come from participating in such games.
With the possibility of remaining anonymous, the Mega Millions jackpot winner may choose to keep their identity hidden from the public even as they enjoy their newfound wealth. The jackpot win in New Jersey has garnered attention and excitement, highlighting the impact of lottery wins on individual lives and the communities where the winning tickets are sold. Regardless of whether the winner decides to come forward or stay anonymous, their win has already made headlines and sparked discussions about the far-reaching effects of such substantial lottery prizes.
