Wisconsin's First Mega Millions Jackpot Claimed
Sunday November 22nd 2020A lucky Wisconsin man has stepped forward to claim the $120 million Mega Millions jackpot he won in September - the first time the top prize has been won in the state since the game launched there 10 years ago.
Adrian Tongson of Racine picked up his winning ticket at Kwik Trip #134, located at 4924 Spring St. in Mount Pleasant. The ticket matched all six numbers in the September 15 draw: 25, 28, 38, 59, 62 and the gold Mega Ball 22.
It was the first big Lottery prize won by a ticket purchased at the Mount Pleasant store, although Kwik Trips statewide have sold nine tickets valued at $1 million or above since 2017.
"We are proud to be a Wisconsin Lottery partner and excited for our customer who purchased this lucky ticket. Kwik Trip will receive $100,000 for selling the ticket so we are delighted for our coworkers who share in our profits," said John McHugh, Kwik Trip Director of Public Relations.
Tongson, who's a longtime Mega Millions fan, didn't check his ticket and discover he'd won the top prize until weeks after the drawing. "Regardless of how much you spend, it only takes one ticket to win. That's what won it for me," he told Wisconsin Lottery officials.
"I’m simply thrilled for Adrian! As a loyal Lottery player, he certainly is a perfect first Mega Millions jackpot winner for our state," said Wisconsin Lottery Director Cindy Polzin. "Congratulations go to our retail partner Kwik Trip for selling the lucky ticket!"
The prize is the first Mega Millions jackpot won in Wisconsin since the game's tickets first went on sale in the state on January 31, 2010. However, Cheeseheads have won other substantial prizes in that time, including 64 tickets worth $1 million each.
Tongson took the cash option of around $95.4 million and received approximately $65.2 million after federal and state tax withholdings. The lucky winner has now left his job and is in the enviable position of planning what to do with his life-changing wealth.
Wisconsin state taxes of 7.65 percent are withheld on Lottery wins of $2,000 and above. "For a big win like this, there is an extra win for Wisconsin taxpayers," said Wisconsin Department of Revenue Secretary Peter Barca. "The state tax collected on the winning Mega Millions ticket totals about $7.3 Million, so taxpayers are winning too."
The last big multi-state jackpot won in the Badger State was a $22 million Powerball prize. An Elk Mound man hit the jackpot in June and gave the nation a much-needed feel-good moment when he shared the prize with his long-time fishing buddy, honoring a decades-old promise that if either of the friends won big, they would split the money.
The estimated Mega Millions jackpot for the next draw on Tuesday, November 24 sits at $200 million ($155.5 million cash option), and you can pick up your tickets now.
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