The long-awaited mystery is finally over. After more than a month of excitement and anticipation, the Illinois Lottery players who won the $349 million Mega Millions jackpot in the March 25 drawing have officially come forward to claim their life-changing prize.
“We took a chance and bought a single Quick Pick ticket,” shared the lucky winners, nicknamed ‘Blessed.’ “We’re absolutely ecstatic and feel incredibly blessed. We plan to use this money to do good – this unbelievable prize will truly be the gift that keeps on giving.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Casey’s General Store, located at 70 S. Somonauk Road in Cortland, Illinois. For selling the winning ticket, the retailer received a bonus of $500,000.
This historic win marks the fourth time an Illinois Lottery player has won a Mega Millions jackpot in nearly four years:
In June 2024, an iLottery player won $552 million – making this the largest prize ever won by an online lottery player in the U.S.
In July 2022, a ticket bought at a gas station in Des Plaines won a $1.34 billion Mega Millions jackpot – which remains the largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois.
In June 2021, a Mega Millions player won $56 million at a Citgo gas station in Crestwood.
Every ticket sold is also a big win for education in Illinois. With nearly $24 million in total Mega Millions ticket sales during the jackpot run, the Illinois Lottery was able to return over $9 million to the Common School Fund to support K-12 education in Illinois.
Tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot is an estimated $70 million, and each ticket costs $5. Tickets for the game can be purchased in-store, online, or on the Illinois Lottery app. For more information or to buy tickets online, please visit IllinoisLottery.com.
As the Mega Millions jackpot continues to grow, the Illinois Lottery encourages players to remember it’s a game of chance. For more information about the odds of winning, visit the Mega Millions game page on IllinoisLottery.com. Be Smart, Play Smart®. Must be 18 or older to play.