RELEASE DATE: 10/25/2016
TUSCOLA, IL – “The lottery has made our dreams come true!” said the winner and his wife, Tuscola residents who won a $134 million Mega Millions jackpot prize when their Quick Pick ticket matched all six numbers – 13 - 21 - 28 - 34 - 40 - (15) – in the Friday, September 16th, drawing.
The winner and his wife, who claimed the prize in the name of the Elaine Francis Trust, were born and raised in central Illinois and have lived in Tuscola for several years. After discovering the win, they met with financial and legal advisers and made plans to retire early from their factory and health care industry jobs. They said they will share the windfall with their families, and will help out in the Tuscola community and the communities where they grew up. They opted to take the prize as a one-time payment of $89,993,284 (before required withholding).
The winning ticket was purchased at Lambo’s BP, 1000 E. Southline Road, in Tuscola. The retailer will receive a bonus of $500,000 for selling the winning ticket. More than 61,000 Illinois Lottery players won prizes ranging from $1 to $1,500 in this Mega Millions drawing. For more information, please visit illinoislottery.com.
Below is a list of the top 10 prizes awarded to Illinois Lottery players:
| Prize amount |
Winner |
Game |
Date |
| $265 million |
Jesus Davila Jr. |
Mega Millions |
January 2015 |
| $262 million |
Jack Williams and Neal Logue |
Mega Millions |
June 2015 |
| $218.6 million |
Merle Butler |
Mega Millions |
March 2012 |
| $183 million |
Kainze Family |
Big Game |
May 2000 |
| $134 million |
Elaine Francis Trust |
Mega Millions |
September 2016 |
| $110.3 million |
PFK Partnership |
Big Game |
April 2002 |
| $81.5 million |
JYS Partnership |
Mega Millions |
December 2007 |
| $63 million |
Flynn & Powell Partners |
Big Game |
November 1999 |
| $50 million |
Theo Baumgartner |
Powerball |
March 2013 |
| $45 million |
Britton Family Partners |
Lotto |
June 1995 |
Quick Mega Millions Facts:
•The very first jackpot-winning Mega Millions ticket was sold in Illinois on May 17, 2002, in Chatham and resulted in a $28 million jackpot prize
•Jackpots start at $15 million
•Overall odds of winning the jackpot 1:258,890,850
•Drawings are at 9:59 PM (CT) every Tuesday and Friday
About Illinois Lottery
Founded in 1974, the Illinois Lottery has contributed over $19 billion (since 1985) to the state’s Common School Fund to assist K-12 public schools, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars to the Capital Projects Fund and to special causes like Illinois Veterans services, the fight against breast cancer, MS research, Special Olympics and assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition to playing in-store, the Illinois Lottery offers online and mobile play for all Illinois Lottery draw-based games at illinoislottery.com. Players must be at least 18 years old.
Media contact: Jason Schaumburg, Illinois Lottery, (312) 793-3034