Posted on: March 20, 2026, 11:14h.
Last updated on: March 20, 2026, 11:14h.
- Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots have soared four times in just under three months.
- The most recent jackpot occurred on St. Patrick’s Day.
- Mega Millions experienced two wins within an eight-day span.
As 2026 unfolds, Mega Millions and Powerball continue to make headlines, providing excitement for lottery enthusiasts.
Fortune smiled on a fortunate Mega Millions player this week, who nabbed a $60 million jackpot by matching the drawn numbers: 4, 11, 18, 38, and 50, along with the gold Mega Ball 24. The prize for the St. Patrick’s Day drawing on March 17 was relatively lower at $60 million due to a previous Mega Millions win just a week earlier, on March 10.
Interestingly, Mega Millions noted that this was the quickest turnaround for a jackpot win since August 2023. The winning ticket was purchased in Ohio at Tyler’s Short Stop, located within a Sunoco gas station.
The winner from the St. Patrick’s Day Mega Millions drawing has 180 days to claim the prize. They must choose between receiving the full $60 million as an annuity over 29 years or a one-time cash payment of $27.1 million. Both amounts are subject to federal and state taxes.
Opting for the cash option would result in a net payout of $16.37 million after accounting for a 37% federal tax and Ohio’s state tax of 2.75%. In Ohio, lottery winners can remain anonymous by establishing a blind trust or similar legal entity to collect their winnings.
Van Wert, where the winning ticket was sold, is located in Northwest Ohio, approximately 30 miles from Fort Wayne, IN.
Mega Millions Winner Identified
The Mega Millions victory on St. Patrick’s Day represents the fourth jackpot win for both Mega Millions and Powerball within just a few months. One of these transformative prizes has already been claimed.
According to the Illinois Lottery, the winner of the Mega Millions jackpot from March 10 has stepped forward. The jackpot amount was slightly higher than second estimates, reaching $536 million instead of the initially reported $533 million.
The winner chose to remain anonymous, following Illinois law that allows lottery winners exceeding $250,000 to do so. The Illinois Lottery did not disclose whether the woman opted for a cash payout or annuity; however, the state mandates that winners wishing to select a one-time payment must claim it within 60 days of the draw date.
The winner shared that she purchased her Mega Millions ticket via the Illinois Lottery’s iLottery platform. As for her future plans, she has some exciting ideas.
“I’ve always dreamed of buying a new family home with a swimming pool. We’re also planning a family gathering soon, so a cruise or perhaps even a trip to Las Vegas could definitely be an option,” she stated.
She preferred to use the alias “Lucky Lady” to remain anonymous.
Rapid Start to 2026
Here’s a summary of the four Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots awarded this year.
- January 21: A single ticket sold in North Carolina wins a $209.3 million Powerball jackpot.
- March 2: A single ticket in Arkansas claims a $250.8 million Powerball prize.
- March 10: A single Mega Millions ticket sold in Illinois takes home $536 million.
- March 17: A ticket sold in Ohio wins the Mega Millions jackpot worth $60 million.