The millionaire sum that an Argentine won in the national lottery 3:01
(CNN) --
Nearly eight weeks after the drawing of one of the biggest Mega Millions jackpots in history, two people -- who agreed to split the prize if their ticket was a winner -- claimed the $1.34 billion prize, the media reported. Illinois Lottery.
The winning ticket was purchased in late July at a Speedway gas station in Des Plaines, about 20 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.
The jackpot is the third largest in US history, according to the lottery.
Winning $1.337 million Mega Millions ticket was sold in Illinois
The winners, who have spent the past few weeks working with professional legal and financial advisors on the claims process, wish to remain anonymous, the Illinois Lottery said, choosing to accept a $780.5 million lump-sum payment. , according to the statement.
"I've been working for the Illinois Lottery for over five years and this is by far the biggest prize I've ever had to process. When we met with the winners' attorneys there was a real vibe of excitement in the room," said the Illinois Lottery Claims Manager Luis Rodriguez, who worked with winners and their legal representatives throughout the prize claim process.
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"It's an indescribable feeling to give this amount of money and know what a huge impact it's going to have on the lives of the winners, and also on the lives of others close to them. It was an incredible feeling to be part of that process, so I just I can imagine how the winners themselves feel," Rodríguez added.
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The winners' purchase of a Mega Millions ticket "turned out to be an absolutely life-changing decision," said Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays.
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