Chicago Resident Claims $1 Million Mega Millions Prize

Drawing Date: 12/17/2013

January 30, 2014 - The Illinois Lottery announces another $1million Mega Millions winner.  Chicago resident Thu Ha Thi Tran claimed a $1million Mega Millions prize at the Illinois Lottery Prize Center in Des Plaines. The lucky lottery player matched the first five numbers - 8 - 14 - 17- 20 - 39- (07) - in the Tuesday, December 17 Mega Millions drawing.

The winning ticket was purchased at Tai Nam Food Market, 4925 North Broadway in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. The retailer received a $10,000 bonus, 1 percent of the prize amount, for selling the winning ticket. 

The Mega Millions jackpot climbed to a staggering $648,000,000 for the December 17 drawing.  Sales of Mega Millions tickets peaked that Tuesday night from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. when Lottery officials reported tickets selling at a rate of $23,000 per minute, or $1.4 million for the hour. From October 2 to December 17 (the period of time that the jackpot rolled) the Lottery recorded $54 million in Mega Millions sales including Megaplier sales.