January 22, 2021 — Michigan
The winning ticket was sold at a Kroger store in Novi, Michigan. A four-member lottery club called the Wolverine FLL Club claimed the prize anonymously through a trust, as permitted under Michigan law. The club waited about two months before coming forward. This was the third-largest Mega Millions jackpot in history at the time. The Kroger location received a $50,000 selling bonus.
Payout choice: The winner chose the lump sum cash option of $776.6 Million, which after federal taxes (37% top bracket) and applicable state taxes results in a significantly reduced — but still life-changing — take-home amount.
Privacy: The winner chose to remain anonymous, claiming through a trust or LLC. Financial advisors generally recommend this approach to protect winners from solicitation, scams, and personal safety risks.
Source: https://www.michiganlottery.com/
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