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A Georgia resident recently claimed the November 14, 2025, $983 million Mega Millions jackpot, which was the largest lottery prize in the state's history, according to GALottery.com.
The player selected the cash option, which equals about $453.6 million before taxes, but chose to remain anonymous in adherence with Georgia law other than confirming that they are from the Peach State, have relatives who benefitted from the Georgia Lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship and play the lottery regularly.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Georgia’s record-breaking jackpot winner and their life-changing start to the new year,” said Georgia Lottery Corp. President and CEO Gretchen Corbin. “This historic jackpot was also significant for Georgia’s students, families and communities who benefit from HOPE and Pre-K. We congratulate our winner and appreciate the support of our players and retail partners during this exciting jackpot run."
The Quik Pik ticket was purchased at a Publix grocery store in Newnan, which will receive a $50,000 retailer incentive bonus payment. The lottery winner's payout surpassed the previous state record of $478.2 million won during the Powerball drawing on October 23, 2024, with two individuals opting for the $230.6 million cash option.
The November 14 drawing was also the eighth-highest Mega Millions jackpot in the game's history and the 14th-largest in U.S. lottery history. Mega Millions' largest drawing in history took place on August 8, 2023, when a player from Florida won the jackpot $1.602 billion jackpot, which was the fourth largest in U.S. lottery history.
Mega Millions tickets rose from $2 to $5 prior to the April 8 drawing and officials said the increased revenue will improve a player's odds of winning the jackpot from 1 in 303 million to 1 in 290 million, which will lead to more sales.
“People really want big jackpots,” said Joshua Johnston, the Washington state lottery director for the Mega Millions game, via the New York Post. “We expect to see a sales lift on this.”
Higher ticket prices would allow the jackpot to start at $50 million, rather than the $20 million it resets to after a jackpot hits during the last prior drawing, while the next jackpot would swell even larger if there isn't a big winner. Additionally, the minimum prize of $10 on a winning ticket will double given the rise in cost for a ticket, according to lottery officials.
Lottery players will reportedly have a 1 in 23 chance to win any prize, an improvement from the 1 in 24 odds prior to the price change, officials confirmed to the New York Post. Mega Millions has only previously changed its price one time since its launch in 2002.