Three Winners Sold for $640 Mega Millions Jackpot
Lottery ticket-holders in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland each selected the winning numbers, which were: 2-4-23-38-46, and Mega Ball 23.
Lucky lottery ticket-holders in Kansas, Illinois, and Maryland likely put an end to the fantasies of a nation after Mega Millions winners were announced Friday night.
The $640 million jackpot, believed to be the world's largest such prize, is expected to be split between three winners who picked: 2-4-23-38-46, and Mega Ball 23.
The Mega Millions game, played in 44 states and jurisdictions, gripped imaginations and pocketbooks alike all week after the prize grew by more than $300 million since the previous drawing on Tuesday. On Patch, Twitter, and Facebook, ideas for how to spend the loot ranged from philanthropic to frivolous:
- "I'd buy a school bus that runs on recycled fryer fat, decorate it with pictures of the most vulnerable wildlife that lives in SE Michigan, hire a full-time bus driver in order to ensure that every child & teacher in the West Bloomfield school district gets a ride in this "nature mobile" over to the West Bloomfield Woods & Nature Preserve for a guided nature walk on the trails!" — Laurel Zoet, via Facebook.
- "I would go on a very long vacation to see parts of the US/world I have always wanted to see and take my family with me. I would buy a big log cabin on a lake up north for family time. Purchase much needed new cars for all of us and pay off all our debts and give extra to start fresh. Would donate a good amount to my church and build a brand new animal shelter for Wyandotte plus donate to several other rescue groups. Then I would retire and relax for some time and do what I want to do in my life and enjoy it - animals included." — Sandy, via Patch.
As of Saturday morning, no media outlet had reported any of the tickets as being claimed.
Earlier this week, Michigan made national news because five tickets, matching five of the six Mega Millions numbers, were sold at the same Meijer store in Northville. Those prizes were $250,000 each, according the Michigan Lottery.
Jenny Whalen
10:17 am on Saturday, March 31, 2012
Sad and rather relieved that I didn't win. Way too many concerns and fears come with becoming a millionaire overnight.
john
10:29 am on Saturday, March 31, 2012
I have always thought how i would spend or rather give money to deservingpeople,like children hospitals,st judes and uof m burn centers but also to the dedicated underpaid nurses who have to do the dirty work,giving treatments ,they are my heroes
Dale Murrish
1:23 pm on Saturday, March 31, 2012
Lotteries are an immoral way for governments to raise money. They take advantage of people's desire to get rich quick, and are generally a regressive tax on those who can least afford it. The only good thing about them is they are a voluntary tax.
The worst false advertising is done by government: it's for education. No it's not, it's for the general fund; it's all one big pot. Spending is reduced elsewhere.
Lotteries should be required to have truth in gambling statements prominently displayed, and Surgeon General type warnings about the dangers of addiction.
The worst part of gambling is it undermines the work ethic; it so easily crosses from entertainment to feed the "I want, I want" mentality that pervades our culture.
At least casinos are legitimate businesses. They have cleverly marketed and reworded gambling into gaming to appear more family-friendly.
Once the government gets addicted to the revenue, there's no going back. Sadly we have officials like Brooks Patterson saying we need more of it. It doesn't add productive goods and services to society.
Gambling is a cancer that has spread across America in the last 30 years; government should discourage vices, not promote them.