Winner of Mega Millions $348M jackpot claims Virginia’s record prize, reveals plans for first purchase

Grass green as money.

The winner of Mega Millions $348 million jackpot, the largest lottery prize ever won in Virginia, stepped forward earlier this month and revealed how they’re spending their winnings.

The ticket holder, who chose to remain anonymous, told lottery officials that they intend to purchase a new, zero-radius riding lawn mower — which often start at $3,000 — with a chunk of the historic pot, Mega Millions announced on Aug. 14

The commonwealth resident claimed their prize at the state lottery’s Richmond office approximately four weeks after purchasing the ticket at the E & C VA convenience store in Burgess, Va., on June 27.

The unidentified lotto player chose to take the one-time $155.6 million cash option instead of the $348 million prize, which would’ve been paid out over 30 years.

Virginia law allows lottery winners to remain anonymous if the value of the prize is $1 million or greater, or if the ticketholder consents in writing to their identity being publicly revealed.

A total of 18 states have laws protecting the identity of jackpot winners; some have prize size conditions, but others, like New Jersey, protect winners from their names being disclosed regardless of the amount.

The convenience store was awarded a $50,000 bonus from the lottery for selling the winning ticket.

Virginia has produced 10 Mega Millions winners since the game’s inception in 2002.

Retired truck driver JR Triplett previously held the state’s Mega Millions record when he won $239 million in 2004. Triplett opted for one lump sum, which was worth $140 million before taxes, according to WIS News 10.

The Mega Millions jackpot has not been won since the June 27 drawing and currently sits at $277 million.

The lottery is ending its fourth month since increasing ticket prices from $2 to $5 following a game redesign, marketed as “bigger and better,” to create larger prizes for all non-jackpot tier winners, better odds to win the jackpot and a larger starting jackpot of $50 million instead of the original $20 million.

A Virginia lottery player scored $1 million from Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing after matching all five white balls.

The Powerball jackpot has surged to a year-high $950 million, the sixth-largest top prize in the games history.