A $36 million Mega Millions jackpot winner’s luck ran out earlier this week after he did not claim his prize.
An eight-figure grand prize won in a Jacksonville, Fla., Publix lottery ticket expired after Sunday’s midnight deadline without the applicant coming forward, the Florida Lottery confirmed to FOX Business.
Both Mega Millions and the Florida Lottery urged Floridians who used Publix to play the lottery to take another look at their tickets before the jackpot expires.
Winning ticket holders had 180 days to receive their $36 million windfall.
The ticket tied to the expired jackpot became a winner on Aug. 15 when Mega Millions drew the numbers 18, 39, 42, 57, 63 on the white ball and 7 on the Mega Ball.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are over 1 in 302 million.
“Florida law requires that 80% of unclaimed winnings from expired tickets be transferred directly to the Educational Enrichment Trust Fund,” the Florida Lottery told FOX Business. “His remaining 20% will be returned to the prize pool to award future prizes or be used to promote special prizes.”
“If a Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot ticket is not claimed within 180 days of the applicable drawing date, the unclaimed jackpot payout funds will be returned to Lottery members as a percentage of Jackpot Rollover Series sales. will be refunded,” the lottery added. .
The fund provides funding for public schools, universities and scholarships, according to a Florida Lottery fact sheet.
The expiration of the $36 million ticket comes as the current Mega Millions jackpot approaches the $500 million level.
The ongoing Mega Millions jackpot stood at $457 million on an annuity-equivalent basis as of Friday morning. The one-time cash payment is worth $216.8 million.
Mega Millions will hold its next drawing for that potential profit late Friday night.
