$1 million prize winner in NC was one number from the massive Mega Millions jackpot
A lottery player just missed a massive jackpot prize — but still scored a $1 million win in North Carolina.
The lucky person is set to get richer after buying a Mega Millions ticket that matched five of the six numbers picked in the drawing Tuesday, March 12, according to the game’s website and the N.C. Education Lottery.
The winning numbers in the drawing were: white balls 2-16-31-57-64, with gold ball 24.
The $1 million ticket, which matched all five white balls, was sold in Fayetteville through the Online Play option, a state lottery spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email.
Though the lottery player beat 1-in-12 million odds to win big, the person was one number from the larger jackpot. No one in the nation won that prize, which stood at $735 million the night of the drawing.
As of early March 13, the North Carolina player hadn’t cashed in on the $1 million prize. But the ticket holder still has time, since the lottery gives winners about six months to come forward, according to lottery rules.
Fayetteville is a roughly 60-mile drive south of Raleigh.
What to know about Mega Millions
To score a jackpot in the Mega Millions, a player must match all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball.
The odds of scoring a jackpot prize are 1 in 302,575,350.
Tickets cost $2 and can be bought on the day of the drawing, but sales times vary by state.
Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET and can be streamed online.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This story was originally published March 13, 2024 at 9:34 AM with the headline "$1 million prize winner in NC was one number from the massive Mega Millions jackpot."
