The Lehigh Acres Publix ticket is a winner

On January 22, 2025By Littum

How long to claim Mega Millions or Powerball lottery jackpot or lump sum in Florida? It varies from state to state.

It looks like a trip to the grocery store really paid for one Publix shopper: A Mega Millions ticket bought there is worth 1 million dollars.

Although a person in Arizona won the big Mega Millions jackpot of $113 million, a ticket in Florida and Arizona had secondary winnings. Mega Millions jackpot now reset to $20 million for Tuesday, January 21st the following day MLK day and Inauguration Day.

Although the big Mega Millions winner wasn’t from Florida, someone here had a good day — a mystery shopper who bought a lottery ticket from a Publix in Lehigh Acres matched five numbers to win $1 million. The mentioned Publix is on the west coast of Florida. The deadline to claim the $113 million Mega Millions top prize and $1 million secondary prizes varies because the winners are from another state (see below).

A “second-tier” win means that a player matches five numbers correctly in Powerball and Mega Millions lottery, and the total jackpot typically rolls over.

Below is information on Mega Millions, Powerball, recent lottery winnings from a Florida Publix and how long to claim a Florida lottery jackpot.

What were the Mega Millions numbers for Friday, January 17, 2025?

Mega Millions draws are at 11pm EST Tuesdays and Fridays. The winning numbers for The Mega Millions draw on Friday, January 17 was 8-10-37-54-69 and Mega Ball was 22. Megaplier was 3x. A ticket bought in Arizona won the $113 million top prize, but two tickets — one each in Florida and Michigan — matched 5 numbers to win $1 million each. (These tickets did not buy Megaplier).

How does Megaplier work in Mega Millions?

According to the Mega Millions site, “most states use a Megaplier feature where players can increase non-jackpot prize winnings by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. In a participating state, you can play the Megaplier for an additional $1. Anyone not -the jackpot prize won on a Mega Millions game will be multiplied by the Megaplier number drawn if you purchased the Megaplier feature, for example, if you win $1 million second line prize in Mega Millions, and the Megaplier number drawn is 5, your prize would be a whopping $5 million if you bought the Megaplier for just $1 extra.”

Which Publix in Florida sold winning Mega Millions, Powerball lottery tickets?

For the January 17, 2025 Mega Millions drawing, Publix, 5781 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres, Florida, sold a Mega Millions Quick Pick ticket that matched five numbers for a $1 million prize. Here are other recent secondary wins from a Publix ticket:

A December 31, 2024, New Year’s Eve Mega Millions ticket purchased on a Publix in ParrishFlorida, is worth $1 million. New Year’s Eve 2024 Mega Millions winning numbers were 13-22-27-29-35 and Mega Ball was 1. Megaplier was 2x.
A December 10, 2024 Mega Millions ticket purchased on a Publix in Crystal RiverFlorida, on the west coast near Cedar Key, is worth a whopping $5 million. The ticket matched five numbers and the Megaplier for that drawing was 5x. On Tuesday, December 10, the Mega Millions winning numbers were 12-14-26-48-52 and the Mega Ball was 21.
ONE Saturday, November 23, 2024, Powerball ticket purchased at Publix, 250 Palm Coast Parkway Northeast, Palm Coast, Florida, matched 5 numbers for a $1 million prize. The winning numbers for the Powerball lottery was 12-13-34-44-67 and Powerball was 8. Power Play was 3x.
In the Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Mega Millions lottery drawing, a ticket purchased from a Publix Liquor store (next to the Publix grocery store), 2623 Simpson Road, Kissimmee, matched five numbers to win $1 million. The aforementioned Publix and Publix Liquor stores are less than 16 miles away from Orlando International Airport and less than 28 miles away from the Walt Disney World Resort. The Tuesday, October 29, 2024 Mega Millions numbers were 16-22-26-36-56 and the Mega Ball was 1.
Before a Georgia winner was announced for Wednesday, October 23 Powerball for $478 millionPublix, 14630 SW 26th St., Miami, sold a $1 million Quick Pick ticket in the Monday, Oct. 21, Powerball drawing. On Monday, October 21, 2024, the winning Powerball numbers were 1-25-57-62-64 and the Powerball was 15.

Where is Lehigh Acres, Florida?

Lehigh Acres is located in Southwest Florida in Lee County and is about 20 miles from Fort Myers.

How long do you have to cash a winning Florida lottery ticket? What is the deadline to get a winning Florida Powerball and Mega Millions ticket?

Requirements for lottery prizes vary from state to state.

In Florida, Florida Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days (six months) of the drawing date. A winner has the first 60 days after the applicable drawing date to claim a cash option for a single payment. This applies to Florida Lottery games and Mega Millions and Powerball tickets purchased here, whether your prize was $1 million, $5 million or a record setting $1.58 billion.

Can Florida Lottery Winners Remain Anonymous? Does the Florida Lottery reveal the names of jackpot winners?

According to Florida Lottery websitecan’t winners remain anonymous: “Florida law requires the Florida Lottery to provide records containing information such as winner’s name, city of residence; game won, date won, and amount won to any third party that requests the information.”

However, the site says, “the names of lottery winners who claim prizes of $250,000 or more will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner.”

Lottery experts and lawyers have said there are ways to stay anonymous if you win.

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.