Michigan man claims $1 million Mega Millions prize while in Florida

Drawing Date: 3/18/2014

March 20, 2014 - The Florida Lottery announces that Gary Shepherd, 62, of Owosso, Michigan, claimed a $1 million Mega Millions prize from the drawing held on Tuesday, March 18, 2014. The winning ticket matched all five of the white ball numbers, which were 11-19-24-33-51, and did not match the Mega Ball, which was 7.

Shepherd always plays the same five numbers for the white balls and interchanges the Mega Ball between 12 and seven, which are numbers in his birthday. For this particular drawing, Shepherd chose 12 for the Mega Ball instead of seven, which was the difference between his $1 million prize and the $414 million jackpot.

Shepherd purchased his winning ticket from Publix, located at 13390 Perdido Key Drive in Pensacola. The retailer received a $1,000 bonus commission for selling the $1 million Mega Millions ticket.

Florida had more than 382,000 winners in this drawing, including one additional $1 million winner and its first-ever jackpot winner, who will split the $414 million jackpot with a winner in Maryland. All Florida winners have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim his/her prize. If the jackpot winner chooses the one-time, lump-sum cash payment option, the claim must be filed within 60 days after the winning draw date.