Illinois Lottery still on the lookout for $349m ticket winner

• The Mega Millions winner of the $349m prize has not stepped forward in Illinois
• The winner or winners still have plenty of time, as some people take months
• The Illinois Lottery has issued a reminder about the ticket and the details around its purchase

The Mega Millions ticket sold in Illinois and fetching $349m last month has still not been claimed by the mystery winner who has preferred to stay quiet about their win. Does this mean that the person is not going to step forward?

Winning the Mega Millions jackpot – how would you do it?

It can go either way. Most of the big jackpots won are usually claimed a little later, and it can take weeks or even months. Sometimes, there are pools involved, and sometimes people just want to get a handle of the tax that surrounds their win, as well as educate themselves on how they are going to manage a life-changing amount.

The $349m jackpot is the fourth or so big win from the lottery in as many years in Illinois, and the winner or winners have not yet stepped forward, with a total of 16 people bagging a huge payday from Mega Millions since the game launched in the state in 2002.

As to the details of the jackpot, the ticket was bought from Casey’s General Store at 70 S. Somonauk Road in Cortland, Illinois, on March 25, 2025, the Illinois Lottery said in a press statement, offering a quick reminder to anyone who may have forgotten about their fortune-winning ticket.

Everyone gets a piece of the action

Commenting on the win, Kim Shaw, Casey’s District Manager, had this to say: "It’s the talk of the town, and the store is still buzzing with excitement. This is the biggest jackpot-winning ticket our store has ever sold. We're thrilled for the winner, and selfishly, we hope it's one of our regular customers—keeping the winnings in the community would make it even more special."

The shop is also in for a big payday, as it’s getting a cash bonus of $500,000 for selling the ticket! The winner or winners, in the meantime, have two options – claim the jackpot as an annuity or scoop up a lump sum that will reduce the total amount to $170m but give them access to the money immediately.

If the prize is not claimed within 365 days, the funds are redirected to the Common School Fund or/and used to fund other activities hosted by the lottery, including games and future prizes.

Image credit: Illinois Lottery