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The winner of the $1.3 billion Mega Millions jackpot has not yet collected their award.
A month has passed since the winning numbers were announced.
“We do not know if they are aware that they have won,” a state lottery official told The Guardian.
One month later, the anonymous winner of the $1.3 billion Mega Millions jackpot has yet to receive their enormous award.
State officials told PEOPLE that the winner had not yet claimed their winnings after purchasing the ticket at a Des Plaines, Illinois petrol station.
The winning ticket represented the second-largest jackpot in the history of Mega Millions. Insider previously revealed that if the winner comes forward, they can pick between a single payment of $780.5 million in cash or $1.337 billion paid out over time.
If they intend to choose the lump payment, they have until September 27 to redeem their award. After that point, they will only be eligible for the annuity option.
This Monday, Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays told The Guardian, “We have no idea if they are even aware that they have won a jackpot.” Therefore, I urge everyone to check their tickets.
If they win a prize of $250,000 or more, lottery officials in Illinois do not need winners to reveal their identify. The winner of the lottery on July 29 has one year to receive their life-changing wealth. According to CBS News, if their contribution is not claimed, participating states will receive their money back.
According to a news release, Mays previously stated that it is not “uncommon” for a winner of this kind of money to not immediately come forward and that the winner may be “going through a spectrum of emotions.”
Prior to claiming a reward of this scale, it is not uncommon for the winner to seek professional legal and financial assistance, according to Meghan Powers, a representative for the Illinois Lottery, who talked to CNBC.
Historically, lottery winners’ lives have deteriorated after claiming their reward, and some have lost every penny of their fortune.