As lottery frenzy continues with the $1.7 billion Powerball jackpot for Wednesday, December 24, or Christmas Eve, players may be wondering what happened to the nearly $1 billion Mega Millions winner from Georgia?
A little over a month ago, the Mega Millions drawings rolled and the prizes grew – to the tune of $980 million.
Finally, one lucky ticket hit the perfect number combination just before the Thanksgiving holiday. A Publix grocery store in Georgia sold the winning ticket that matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the Mega Millions drawing for Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. Final sales pushed the total to $983 million, according to the Georgia Lottery.
Below is what we know about the $983 million Mega Millions winner and the ticket that was purchased at a Publix in Georgia.
Who won $980 million Mega Millions in Georgia on Friday, November 14, 2025?
A day after the record Mega Millions drawing, the Georgia Lottery announced where the winning ticket was purchased and in which city.
As of Tuesday, December 23, 2025, more than a month after the $980 million Mega Millions drawing, the winner of the $983 million Mega Millions jackpot is unknown. The verification process usually takes several weeks, according to organizations like the California Lottery.
Publix in Georgia sold a $980 million Mega Millions ticket for November 14, 2025
The $980 million Mega Millions ticket was sold at Publix, 4000 N. Highway 29, Newnan, Georgia, for the Friday, November 14, 2025 Mega Millions drawing. It was a quick pick ticket.
The Georgia Lottery said the store received a $50,000 commission for selling a nearly $1 billion winning Mega Millions lottery ticket.
Retail bonuses vary by state — for example, two Publix stores in Florida received $100,000 each during previous billion-dollar jackpots. In California, retailers get $1 million.
What we know: Missouri’s $1.8 billion Powerball winner claims $410 million in cash.
How long does the Georgia winner have to claim the $983 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot?
Mega Millions jackpot winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prizes, according to Georgia Lottery rules. In this case, the winner of the $980 million Mega Millions from the Friday, November 14, 2025 drawing has until Wednesday, May 13, 2026 to claim their prize in person at Georgia Lottery headquarters.
Lottery rules vary by state. In Florida, for example, Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners have 60 days to claim the lump sum and six months from the date the annual payouts are drawn.
In California, it is public record to know who won a Mega Millions, Powerball or California Lottery drawing, where the winning ticket was sold, and whether the winner claimed the prize in a lump sum or 30 annual payments.
How much is a lump sum for $980 million Mega Millions? How much will the Georgia winner get before taxes?
The single jackpot winner could claim $980 million in 30 annual payments or take a one-time lump sum valued at nearly $452.2 million before federal taxes.
Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, November 14, 2025, $980 million jackpot
The winning numbers for the Friday, November 14, 2025 Mega Millions drawing were 1-8-11-12-57 and the Mega Ball was 7.
The winning Georgia jackpot ticket wasn’t the only lucky ticket. A ticket purchased in Michigan matched 5 plus the 3X multiplier for a $3 million prize.
Mega Millions tickets start at $5 a piece.
Can Georgia lottery winners remain anonymous?
The Georgia Lottery rules state that a winner may be nominated by a “corporation, partnership or trust. Groups, families, clubs or organizations may designate an individual or entity to receive a prize payment or, if the amount of the prize won is $5,001 or more, individual prize payments ($601 or more) may be made to each member of the group, up to 25 members.”
If the $980 million Mega Millions winner in Georgia claims the prize as a corporation or trust, that could help preserve their anonymity.
In some states, a winner must submit their name, city of residence, and whether the cash option or the full amount was chosen, such as California.
According to the Florida Lottery’s website, winners cannot remain anonymous: “Florida law requires the Florida Lottery to provide records containing information such as the winner’s name, city of residence; game won, date won, and amount won to any third party that requests the information.”
However, the site states, “the names of lottery winners who claim prizes of $250,000 or more will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner.”
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for the USA TODAY Network. Follow her further Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
This article originally appeared on the Palm Beach Post: Publix Store Sells Mega Millions Winning Ticket Worth Nearly $1 Billion