LUCKY TICKET
Mystery millionaire has yet to come forward as $1 million prize remains unclaimed and it was bought at convenience store
The winner can remain anonymous
SEVEN months have passed since someone in Minnesota became a millionaire, but they have yet to claim their prize.
The New Year's Day lottery drawing for the state's Millionaire Raffle produced two winners.
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Lottery officials announced on Monday that a winner from Dundas, 45 minutes south of Minneapolis, had collected their prize.
They bought their ticket at a Kwick Trip convenience store.
But the player who bought their winning ticket at the Corborn's Marketplace in Delano, about 30 minutes from Minneapolis, has yet to come forward.
Locals told a news outlet that they hadn't heard anything about who the possible winner could be.
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Some suggested the winner might be talking to a lawyer or planning what to spend the money on.
"My guess is they just don't know they won," one resident told CBS affiliate WCCO.
Minnesota Lottery spokesperson Adam Prock said there are two types of winners.
"We have people who win prizes that want to get in right away and claim the money," he told the outlet.
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"We have others that want to get their ducks in a row before they come in."
The winner only has until January 1 to claim their prize money, and new state laws allow them to remain anonymous when collecting.
Lottery warning to check tickets for $1 million unclaimed Powerball prize and it was bought at a supermarket
UP FOR GRABS
A Powerball winner from St Louis, Missouri, is also waiting to claim their prize.
The $278,000 prize came from the Show Me Cash scratch-off game.
It was bought at a Phillips 66 gas station, according to Fox affiliate KTVI.
The winning numbers were 8, 14, 15, 29, and 37.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?
Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?
The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.
Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.
Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.
Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.
Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you'll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity.
Whoever won only has until September 18 to claim their cash.
While most players have a year to collect prizes, state lottery laws only allow 180 days to claim any cash.
Another Powerball prize from Iowa worth $1 million has yet to be claimed and is due to expire in February 2025.
The winning numbers were 29, 42, 22, 51, and 54, and the Powerball was 12.
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