Mystery $800M Mega Millions winner finally claims massive jackpot

The mystery surrounding one of the biggest Mega Millions jackpots of the year is starting to clear up. On July 28, 2026, one lucky ticket purchased in Florida was the only jackpot-winning ticket purchased for the $800 million jackpot available at the time. Since that drawing, the winner hadn’t stepped forward to claim their prize, but the Florida Lottery records state differently now. The lucky winner is listed as being from Bradenton, Florida, and they chose to take the one-time cash option of $344.2 million before taxes.

However, there is one mystery that still remains: Who won all that money? For now, the winner’s identity is being kept out of public records under Florida law that temporarily shields the names of people who claim particularly large lottery prizes.

A Quick Pick ticket wins it all

The winning ticket was a Quick Pick ticket purchased at Wawa No. 5185, located at 14510 State Road 70 E. in Bradenton, which is just east of Lakewood Ranch and near Sarasota.

This happened to be the only ticket sold anywhere in the country that matched all six of the winning numbers drawn for the July 28 drawing. The winning white ball numbers for that drawing were 34, 48, 49, 59, and 70, and the Mega Ball number was 12.

During the jackpot run, it went 37 consecutive drawings before the Florida ticket finally ended the drought. While the annuity jackpot was advertised as $800 million, the winner chose the one-time lump-sum payment, so they got $344.2 million before taxes.

This is the biggest lottery jackpot win in Florida since the historic $1.6 billion Mega Millions prize that hit in August 2023.

In a statement, Florida Lottery Secretary Reginald Dixon said, "We are thrilled to congratulate Florida's newest Mega Millions jackpot winner on this incredible, life-changing moment.”

Who is the lucky winner?

If you want to learn the winner’s identity, then you will have to wait a little longer for that information.

The updated Florida Lottery records list the winner as “exempt pursuant to F.S. 24.1051." It does give the winner’s location as Bradenton, Florida. However, it doesn’t reveal the person’s name or the date the jackpot was claimed.

In Florida, they generally make lottery winners’ names and certain other information available as public records. However, winners who claim prizes of $250,000 or more receive a temporary exemption from public disclosure.

For 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, their names can be protected unless the winner chooses to waive that protection. That’s what this winner chose to do, but after 90 days, their identity will eventually become public.

$800 million win joins Mega Millions history

This jackpot win also earned a spot among the biggest prizes Mega Millions has ever awarded. The July 28, 2026, prize is the tenth-largest jackpot ever won in the game’s history.

While Florida now holds the 10th spot, they also happen to hold the top spot on that list. The biggest Mega Millions jackpot in the game’s history was won on August 8, 2023.

For that drawing, the winning ticket was purchased at a Publix in Neptune Beach. They won the $1.6 billion jackpot.

For this newest Florida winner, the waiting is over. They’ve claimed their ticket, they chose the cash option, and they have received their money. The only thing lottery players don’t know yet is who got lucky.

Enjoy playing the lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.