The Mega Millions jackpot is a ‘life-changing’ amount. What should you do if you win?

The Mega Millions lottery has gained attention nationwide including in California, especially after the sum of the jackpot recently sweetened to $1.28 billion.

The prize would represent the fourth-largest lottery winning in history. According to California Lottery, the largest jackpot won by a California resident was a nearly $700 million Powerball prize in 2021.

But what if you are the one-in-302.5-million winner to get the prize? The Bee talked to California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker to answer what happens if you become a winner and to gather tips for any Mega Millions prize winners.

What’s the first step you should take if you win a prize?

Once you realize you have a winning ticket of any value, especially if it’s at jackpot value, the first thing you should do is to find somewhere to keep it safe — at home, if you have a home safe in your closet. If you don’t have a safe, maybe it’s in a sealed envelope in your bedside table drawer or maybe it’s in your own wallet. Wherever you keep your sensitive paperwork, your passport, etc., you’re going to want to make sure that ticket is somewhere safe because you’re going to need that when you fill out a claim

What are some other steps you should take?

We recommend hiring financial advisors, and legal advisors potentially. There are people who specialize in helping average Californians come into newfound wealth.

Any other advice after winning?

Be careful who you tell, make sure you tell people you trust, you love. Your life really does change, and I know this having spoken to a number of winners in California previously. As fun and exciting as it is, it really is life changing. We want to make sure we are setting our winners up for success.

What happens after you file a claim?

Once we get a claim, it triggers a process internally in the California Lottery and as you might imagine, it’s rigorous. There’s a fair amount of accounting people who have to take a very close look at all the numbers, the tickets, and then what a lot of people don’t know is that we have a really robust investigation — a law enforcement unit. We have sworn officers on our team who will interview our claimants.

What does the law enforcement unit investigate?

We’ll review security footage if it’s available at the store where they bought it. We’ll ask them questions about their purchase. We want to make sure it’s all on the up and up. For example, if they’re 18 years old, they legally and with integrity bought the ticket.

When is a winner declared?

It’s at the end of that (investigation) process where we actually declare a winner. Even if someone has come forward, it doesn’t guarantee they’re a winner until we’ve thoroughly vetted it. We want to make sure it’s all legitimate and that the right money is going to the rightful person.

How long does it take to get your hands on the prize after winning the jackpot?

For a routine case where it’s really straightforward and there’s nothing unusual, once the claim is turned in, it takes, give or take, about eight weeks for that whole process to play out and the check to get cut or the wire, depending on what the person chooses.

When does the CA Lottery know someone has won?

We know at the California Lottery and all the lotteries know if somebody has hit the jackpot. We know within a few hours of the draw; all the results have to be certified across all the states that are a part of Mega Millions. We should know late tonight whether there was a jackpot winner here or in any other state.

When is the lottery winner revealed?

Once someone realizes they have a winning ticket, it’s up to them when they come forward.

Some winners come forward fairly quickly; other times we don’t see claimants come forward for months. Oftentimes, if because they’re doing exactly what we advise and hiring experts and advisors to help them navigate that process and those riches.

How much money does the store receive for selling the winning ticket?

Our 23,000 partner stores across California all earn bonuses for selling jackpot winning tickets and the formula is half of one percent of the prize up to one million dollars.

Can winners remain anonymous?

Winners’ names in California are subject to public record, so it’s important for people to understand that they can’t play anonymously.

What if someone doesn’t win tonight?

If it doesn’t hit tonight, it will roll to $1.7 billion, which is the highest-ever U.S. jackpot of any game.

This story was originally published July 29, 2022 at 3:49 PM.