By Minyvonne
Burke
A winning Mega Millions ticket sold in Fort Myers, Florida has brought a glimmer of hope to a city devastated by Hurricane Ian where there is still a long road to recovery.
Two lucky players matched all six numbers in Friday's drawing—9, 22, 26, 41, 44 and Mega Ball 19—for a prize of $494 million.
One of the tickets was sold in California and the other at a 7-Eleven store on Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers, the Florida Lottery announced Monday.
The winners will get a sum of 247 million dollars each.
A man holds a MegaMillions ticketOlivier Douliery / AFP via Getty Images
"This prize makes a little more sense,"
Florida Lottery officials said in a statement.
This is the third time the state has picked up a Mega Millions winner, according to the Lottery Department.
As of Tuesday morning, none of the winners had claimed the prize.
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In Florida, winners have 180 days from the draw date to claim their prize, but only 60 days to choose to collect the prize in a single cash payment, which in this case would be $123.95 million.
In California, the winning ticket was sold at a 7-Eleven store on Kooser Road in San Jose, lottery officials said in a tweet.
The winner has one year to claim their prize.
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The 7-Eleven chain of stores said it is excited by the news.
“We have always known that our customers across the country are winners!
We couldn't be happier that these extra lucky customers purchased their tickets at 7-Eleven stores in Fort Myers, Florida and San Jose, California," a spokesperson said in a statement.
Florida's winning ticket comes weeks after Category 4 Hurricane Ian hit the state on September 28.
More than 130 deaths have been attributed to the storm, according to an NBC News tally based on statements from local and state officials, making the hurricane Florida's deadliest since 1935.
Fort Myers was one of the hardest hit areas.
One resident said she hopes the Mega Millions winner will give some of the money to a local charity to help people who are still struggling.
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“We have all been affected in some way,” Kerry Sanders said.
"So that would be a nice thing, a nice gesture."
Another resident said she was glad to have good news coming from the Fort Myers area.
“After Hurricane Ian and [its] devastation,
it's nice to know someone was able to make that kind of money
,” he said.
State lottery officials said they hope the winnings could "have a positive impact" in the area.
