TOPEKA, KS (KCTV) -
The golden ticket in Kansas has been claimed by a Kansas resident.
The winner of $218.6 million in the Mega Millions drawing claimed the money at 11:45 a.m. Friday. The winner chose not to go public after discovering that they had won on Monday.
The winning ticket was sold at a Casey's General Store #2668 at 940 N. Main St. in Ottawa.
Kansas Lottery officials said the winner has quality legal and financial consultants.
"We do have a legitimate winner," Kansas Lottery Executive Director Dennis Wilson said.
The $656 million jackpot will be split by the owners of three winning tickets in Kansas, Maryland and Illinois. This is the first winning ticket to be claimed.
The winning numbers were 2-4-23-38-46 and Mega Ball 23. They were drawn a week ago today.
The winning person plays lotteries regularly. The winning ticket was a Quick Pick. Lottery officials said the winner didn't check their tickets until Monday when they look at the state's website. The winner checked 10 times and still had a hard time believing it.
After making the arrangements with lottery officials, the winner and their advisors left Topeka, Wilson said.
Obviously don't need the publicity. They aren't use to the publicity," he said. "These kind of winners need time to digest this. They were still just in awe that they had won it."
Real people win lotteries, Wilson.
"They are like all of us they think about the possibility of winning but they never think it's going to happen to them. But it did. And it proves real people really win and you could be next," he said.
The winner will pay nearly $8 million in taxes to the state of Kansas with the federal government getting $39.4 million. Altogether, the winner will get $110.5 million after all taxes were paid. It will take several days to transfer the money, Wilson said.
The winner plans to retire.
The owners of Casey's get a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
Record sales meant the Mega Millions jackpot soared to $656 million, which will be shared by the three winners.
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Dennis Wilson/Kansas Lottery
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