The winner of the $140 million Mega Millions jackpot has been identified
Lottery winners Mike Greer and Steve Mays
GLADSTONE -- It was a day of firsts for the Michigan Lottery and its players: payments to the first Mega Millions jackpot win in the Upper Peninsula and the first Powerball jackpot winner anywhere in Michigan, whose winning numbers were drawn just eight days apart; and the largest one-day prize payout since the Lottery started 38 years ago.
Winners of both the October 29 Mega Millions jackpot and the November 6 Powerball jackpot were in Lansing Friday to claim their prizes, which totaled $269.6 million. The $141 million Mega Millions prize was claimed by Steve Mays of Gladstone, and the Powerball prize of $128.6 million was claimed by the Lottery club, Team Victory.
Mays, of the Gladstone area, opted for the Mega Millions annuity, which will pay out approximately $5.4 million a year for 26 years.
“I’ve been retired for 10 years,” Mays told lottery officials. “The last couple have been tough, and this prize is going to make things a whole lot easier.”
When asked what he would do with his winnings, Mays replied, “to be determined.”
Mays is Michigan’s second largest multi-state jackpot winner and its 11th Mega Millions winner since the game began in 2002.
Michigan’s last Mega Millions jackpot was won in June 2010.
Team Victory, the Powerball jackpot winner, is made up residents of southeast Michigan. The club opted to take the lump-sum value of the prize, $69,606,574, which is less federal and state withholding.
Mike Greer claimed the prize for Team Victory and said that he and the club members “are still in a state of shock."
Team Victory’s win is Michigan’s fourth largest multi-state jackpot winner and its first Powerball winner since the game was introduced to Michigan players on January 31, 2010.
For selling the winning jackpot tickets, the Grain ‘n Grape in Gladstone and the Uptown Bookstore in Highland Park will each receive a $50,000 bonus commission.
The $141 million Mega Millions jackpot claimed today rolled 11 times before hitting on October 29.
Mega Millions tickets are sold in 42 states. Powerball tickets are sold in 42 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Upper Michigans Source has learned the name of the winner of the $140 million Mega Millions jackpot.
According to the state lottery office, Steve Mays of the Gladstone area holds the winning ticket.
The winning ticket was sold at the Grain 'n Grape in Gladstone last month.
The big winners from the two major Michigan Lottery jackpots, the Mega Millions and Powerball, were set to claim their prizes at the same time Friday.
The Mega Millions Lottery is offered in 35 states and holds the record for the largest jackpot in North American history.
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