> At a Glance
> – Anonymous Georgia player claimed the $983 million Mega Millions prize from the Nov. 14 drawing
> – Cash value: $453.6 million before taxes
> – Ticket bought at Publix #1816 in Newnan after seeing jackpot on a billboard
> – Why it matters: Largest lottery prize ever won in Georgia, funding education programs statewide
A single Georgia ticket has turned into the state’s biggest lottery payday. The Georgia Lottery Corp. revealed the winner stepped forward on Jan. 2, quietly securing the $983 million Mega Millions jackpot from the Nov. 14 drawing.
The Winning Moment
The player, who chose to stay anonymous under Georgia law, selected the cash option of $453.6 million before taxes. They told lottery officials that a billboard displaying the massive jackpot reminded them to buy a ticket on a whim.
- Winning numbers: 1, 8, 11, 12, 57 and Mega Ball 7
- Ticket purchased at 4000 N. Highway 29, Newnan
- Retailer bonus: $50,000 for Publix #1816
Record Breaker for Georgia
This prize eclipses the previous state record of $478.2 million set by a Powerball ticket sold in Buford for the Oct. 23, 2024 drawing.
Gretchen Corbin, Georgia Lottery Corp. President and CEO, said:
> “We are thrilled to celebrate Georgia’s record-breaking jackpot winner and their life-changing start to the new year. This historic jackpot was also significant for Georgia’s students, families and communities who benefit from HOPE and Pre-K.”
Plans for the Fortune
The winner, a Georgia resident whose family has benefited from the HOPE Scholarship, said the money will be:
- Generational – designed to last for descendants
- Charitable – portions earmarked for good causes
- Grateful – thankful for the ability to give back
Key Takeaways
- Georgia now holds its own all-time lottery record: $983 million
- All Mega Millions tickets expire 180 days after the draw date
- The win supports HOPE scholarships and Pre-K programs across the state
- The anonymous winner wants the windfall to benefit both family and charity
Georgia’s newest multimillionaire begins 2026 with a nine-figure bank balance and a plan to share the wealth.
