Nearly $1 Billion Winning Mega Millions Ticket Sold in Georgia — Here’s What the Winner Takes Home After Taxes
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A single ticket sold in Georgia has captured one of the largest prizes in U.S. lottery history. In the Mega Millions draw held on November 14, 2025, the jackpot reached $980 million — the eighth-largest in game history.
What the Winner Can Choose
The winner of the Georgia ticket faces a decision between two payout options:
- 30-year annuity: The full $980 million spread over annual payments.
- Lump-sum cash option: Estimated at $452.2 million before taxes.
Most winners opt for the lump sum, in part because it gives immediate access to the funds.
How Taxes Eat Into the Payout
If the winner takes the cash option, here’s a breakdown of how taxes reduce the take-home amount:
- Federal withholding: An automatic 24 % of winnings over $5,000 is withheld, bringing the $452.2 million to about $343.7 million.
- Actual federal tax rate: Because lottery winnings count as ordinary income, the winner likely falls into the 37 % top federal rate, implying further taxes of roughly $58.8 million, reducing the total to about $284.9 million.
- State tax (Georgia): Georgia imposes a flat income-tax rate of 5.19 % on lottery winnings. On the lump sum that equates to about $23.5 million.
After all this, if the lump sum is chosen, the winner’s estimated take-home is about $261.4 million.
What If They Choose the Annuity?
If the annuity route is chosen, the winner would receive annual payments averaging roughly $32.6 million before taxes. After applying federal and state tax rates, those payments drop to around $20.5 million per year.
A Truly Rare Win
The odds of matching all six numbers in Mega Millions are about 1 in 290.5 million. The winning ticket was sold at a store in Georgia, making it the largest single-ticket jackpot claimed in that state’s history.
Final Thoughts
While a take-home of about $261 million is exponentially life-changing, it’s significantly less than the advertised $980 million. Taxes and payout structure take a big bite. Winners should also remember the immediate steps: sign the ticket, secure it, and form a plan for financial and tax strategy.
