TiYahna Bambaata, a cashier at a New Jersey liquor store, sold the $1.13 billion Mega Millions ticket without knowing the buyer’s identity. She handed over the life-changing ticket to an anonymous customer.
“This is exciting. On Wednesday at the Neptune Township ShopRite Liquor shop on Route 66, Bambaata expressed his happiness that someone from his area had won. “Several folks came in and out last night. “I can’t remember who it was,” she explained.
Lottery authorities stated that the winner of the $1.13 billion Mega Millions ticket actively selected their numbers rather than using computer-generated random selection.
“I am trying to remember…” But I have no idea,” said the 27-year-old college student preparing to become a physician’s assistant.
Bambaata, the store’s part-time employee for three years, is claimed to be the niece of Neptune Township Mayor Tassie York.
The Mega Millions jackpot expanded over 15 weeks after 31 consecutive draws without a winner, dating back to December 8. On that date, two men in California shared a $395 million prize.
The $1.13 billion Mega Millions victory is New Jersey’s 24th winning ticket and only the sixth jackpot to reach $1 billion. It is the fifth-largest jackpot in the game’s history, according to lottery records. However, the winner has yet to appear, and there is a chance they will remain nameless thanks to a law passed four years ago in New Jersey that allows winners to keep their identities hidden.
“If you are the winner, I encourage you right now to sign the back of the ticket, photograph it, make a copy of it, and keep it in a safe place,” New Jersey Lottery Executive Director James A. Carey Jr. stated.
The Mega Millions winner can choose to receive the $1.13 billion jackpot in yearly payments over 30 years or take a one-time lump sum of around $536.6 million.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are staggering: 1 in 302,575,350.
The shop that sold the winning ticket received a $30,000 bonus check, and ShopRite president Richard Saker indicated that the funds would be donated to charity.