The $800 Million Wawa Ticket

The July 28, 2026 Mega Millions drawing produced an $800 million jackpot — the tenth-largest in the game's history and the largest of 2026 — won by a single Quick Pick ticket bought at Wawa No. 5185 in Bradenton, Florida. The winning numbers were 34, 48, 49, 59 and 70 with Mega Ball 12, ending a 37-drawing rollover streak. In late August the winner came forward, chose the $344.2 million cash option (Florida allows just 60 days from the draw to pick the cash), and stayed temporarily exempt from public disclosure under state law.

The lesson: The headline jackpot is never the check — $800 million became a $344.2 million cash option before taxes took their share.

Source: original reporting · How we source stories