Pennsylvania Group Claims $516 Million Mega Millions Prize
Monday July 5th 2021An anonymous group of five Pennsylvania Mega Millions players has come forward to cash their jackpot-winning ticket from May, the ninth-highest prize in the game's history and the largest ever won in the state.
The group claimed the $516 million top prize under the name Peace of Mind Trust, with their attorneys receiving the check on the winners' behalf.
The players chose to receive the cash option lump sum payout of $348,600,000, rather than the full $516 million annuity value. After withholdings of 24 percent federal and 3.07 percent Pennsylvania taxes, the group will receive $254,233,980.
"This is life-changing generational money. The winners live in small communities in eastern Pennsylvania and desire to keep their lives as normal as possible. Maintaining anonymity is key to ensuring that normalcy. The winning ticket was a Quick Pick," the Trust's lawyers, Kurt Panouses and Christopher Mahoney, said in a statement.
Although state law does not allow Pennsylvania winners to officially stay anonymous, they are able to create a private trust to claim the prize for them, said Lottery spokesperson Ewa Swope. A trust keeps a winner's name and other personal information private, thereby avoiding unwanted publicity.
"Beneficiary information and other details related to the trust are considered personal financial information that is confidential according to the law," Swope explained.
The lucky ticket was purchased from 7-Eleven at 2760 Trenton Road in Levittown, Bucks County and matched all six winning numbers in the Friday, May 21, 2021 drawing - white balls 6, 9, 17, 18 and 48, along with the gold Mega Ball 8.
"I'm happy for them and I hope it was somebody local," said the store's owner, Prashant Shah. The 7-Eleven franchise received a $100,000 bonus commission after selling the ticket.
“The Pennsylvania Lottery congratulates the big winners of this historic jackpot,” said Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko.
“We tell our players all the time that it only takes one ticket to have a chance to win a life-changing jackpot, and this Mega Millions win is a reminder of that fact. This is the largest jackpot ever won in Pennsylvania, and that’s also great news for the older Pennsylvanians who benefit from the programs the Pennsylvania Lottery funds.”
The incredible payout is the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever won in May, and the third time a Pennsylvania ticket has taken home the game's top prize since sales began in the state in 2010. Previously, a Pittsburgh player scored a $149 million payday on May 20, 2014, and a Virginia truck driver on a work trip through PA won $153 million on July 21, 2015.
The Pennsylvania Lottery is unique in using all profits to fund programs benefiting the state's senior citizens. The Mega Millions jackpot run that started Friday, February 19 and ended Friday, May 21 resulted in $41.5 million in ticket sales, generating proceeds of $16.6 million to assist PA's older residents.
Pick up your tickets for the next Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday, July 6, with an $82 million jackpot up for grabs.
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