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Illinois Woman Collects $393 Million Mega Millions Prize

Tuesday August 29th 2017

Patricia Busking, a retired health care worker from Palos Heights, Illinois, has come forward to collect the $393 million Mega Millions jackpot from Friday August 11th. Busking admitted the moment she discovered her good fortune felt “surreal” and like an “out-of-body experience.”

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The lucky winner, who only plays Mega Millions when the jackpot is huge, appeared at a news conference at Chicago’s Thompson Center just days after another health professional, Mavis Wanczyk of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was unveiled as the winner of Wednesday’s gigantic $758.7 million Powerball drawing.

Busking is Illinois’ biggest lottery winner ever and told reporters that she delayed claiming the prize until she had taken advice from financial experts and her family. The winner described the time between her numbers coming up and her making contact with the Illinois Lottery as a “whirlwind” and admitted that she and her husband felt overwhelmed by the good news.

The Buskings will take a one-off, pre-tax payment of $246 million and will donate some to charities close to their hearts.

Busking bought the five Quick Pick tickets for the draw from Nick’s BBQ in Palos Heights, which has reported a surge in business since the win. The store will also receive a $500,000 bonus for supplying the lucky ticket.

Mega Millions returns tonight with a jackpot worth $45 million and you can buy tickets from authorized retailers. Lottery fans in many locations can also choose their numbers online. Good luck!

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