Two weeks ago, a $5 ticket made someone in Florida a multimillionaire − thanks to Mega Millions. Because as they say in the lottery business, “it could happen to you.”
But who is the mystery Mega Millions winner in Florida? That remains to be seen.
After 37 rollovers in a lottery streak that started just after St. Patrick’s Day, that jackpot was close to reaching $1 billion and was already in the top 10 biggest prizes in the history of the Mega Millions lottery game.
Alas, it ended when one ticket from Bradenton, Florida, matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball to a tune of $800 million in the Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Mega Millions drawing.
Here’s what we know about the winner.
Who won $800 million Mega Millions jackpot Tuesday, July 28, 2026?
Soon after the lottery numbers were pulled for the Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Mega Millions drawing, Mega Millions officials announced online that the winning ticket came from Florida.
On Wednesday, July 29, Florida Lottery officials reported the winner bought a ticket from a Wawa gas station in Bradenton, Florida, near the Tampa area.
One ticket in Florida matched all five numbers and the Mega Ball to win $803 million, the grand total after final ticket sales were factored in.
“We are thrilled to congratulate Florida’s newest Mega Millions jackpot winner on this incredible, life-changing moment,” Florida Lottery Secretary Reginald Dixon said in a news release. “This win is an exciting reminder that every ticket carries the possibility of a dream come true. We are especially grateful to our valued Florida Lottery players, whose continued support helps generate funding for education across our state. Every ticket purchased contributes to creating brighter futures for Florida’s students.”
The winning numbers for the Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, were 34-48-49-59-70 and the Mega Ball was 12.
Before the July 28, 2026, win for $803 million, Mega Millions was last won when a ticket purchased in Ohio matched all six numbers to win a $60 million prize on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
How much will $800 million Mega Millions winner from Florida take home?
The winner can choose between the advertised $800 million annuity or an estimated $344.2 million cash option before taxes, Mega Millions and Florida Lottery officials state.
The Tuesday, July 28, 2026, drawing for $800 million ranks among the largest in Mega Millions history and is the biggest lottery prize won in Florida since the state’s record-setting $1.56 billion Mega Millions jackpot in August 2023.
Final ticket sales from the Aug. 8, 2023, Mega Millions drawing pushed that total to $1.602 billion. That ticket was purchased from a Publix in Neptune Beach, Florida, near Jacksonville. Saltines Holdings LLC of Miami, Florida, claimed the cash option, bringing home $794,248,882 from the $1.602 billion grand total, Florida Lottery records show.
Who sold $803 million Mega Millions ticket from Tuesday, July 28, 2026, lottery drawing?
Wawa, 14510 State Road 70 E, Bradenton, Florida, sold the winning ticket in the $800 million Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. That Wawa, near the Tampa area, is located along the busy State Road 70 corridor in eastern Manatee County, a short drive from Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch.
How long does the winner have to claim $800 million Mega Millions from Tuesday, July 28, 2026?
If the winner wants a one-time lump sum from the Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Mega Millions drawing for $800 million, they’ll have to move fast: To claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has the first 60 days after the applicable draw date to claim it. So to claim the cash, the $800 million Mega Millions winner has until Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, or 60 days from Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Prizes from the Florida Lottery must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. Rules for cash or annuity vary in different states.
For the annual payments, the $800 million Mega Millions winner has until Sunday, Jan. 24, 2027, or 180 days from Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Contributing: Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Lianna Norman and Jennifer Sangalang.are trending reporters for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, lotteries, rocket launches, Florida wildlife, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida Mega Millions winner: Info about $800 million ticket from Wawa
Reporting by Jennifer Sangalang and Lianna Norman, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jennifer Sangalang and Lianna Norman, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
