Lottery frenzy peaked last month after Mega Millions zeroed in on $1 billion — and after months of rollovers, one lucky ticket scored $983 million just before the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday.
A Publix grocery store in Georgia sold the winning ticket that matched five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the Friday, Nov. 14, Mega Millions drawing for $980 million. More than two weeks after the epic win, the jackpot remained the eighth-largest in Mega Millions history (see below).
Had the Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, Mega Millions drawing rolled over, it would have been the second billion-dollar lottery jackpot for 2025 and the 14th overall in the history of Powerball and Mega Millions.
But since there was a winner, all eyes are on the $980 million prize. Final sales pushed the total to $983 million, according to the Georgia Lottery.
Since then, other Publix stores in Georgia have had secondary lottery wins, meaning anywhere from $10,000 to a cool $1 million.
Below is what we know about the $983 million Mega Millions ticket purchased from a Publix in Georgia and other lottery prizes that came from a Georgia Publix so soon after the near-billion-dollar jackpot.
A day after the record-setting Mega Millions drawing, the Georgia Lottery announced where the winning ticket was purchased and in what city.
As of Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, more than two weeks after the $980 million Mega Millions lottery drawing, it is not known who was the winner of the $983 million Mega Millions grand prize. The vetting process typically takes a few weeks, according to organizations like the California Lottery.
The $980 million Mega Millions ticket was sold at Publix, 4000 N. Highway 29, Newnan, Georgia, for the Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, Mega Millions lottery drawing. It was a quick pick ticket.
The Georgia Lottery said the store received a $50,000 commission for selling a near-$1 billion winning Mega Millions lottery ticket.
Retail bonuses vary by state — for example, two Publix stores in Florida received $100,000 each during previous billion-dollar jackpots. In California, retailers get $1 million.
According to Georgia Lottery online, in addition to the Publix grocery store in Newnan, Georgia, that sold the winning $980 million Mega Millions lottery ticket, these stores from the Lakeland, Florida-based grocery chain also had significant lottery wins since Nov. 14, 2025:
Mega Millions jackpot winners have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prizes, per Georgia Lottery rules. In this case, the $980 million Mega Millions winner from Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, drawing has until Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to claim their prize in person at Georgia Lottery headquarters.
Lottery rules vary by state. In Florida, for example, Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners have 60 days to claim the one-time lump sum and six months from the date of the drawing for the annual payments.
In California, it is public record to know who won a Mega Millions, Powerball or California Lottery drawing, where the winning ticket was sold and whether the winner claimed the prize in lump sum or 30 annual payments.
The winning numbers for the Mega Millions drawing on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, were 1-8-11-12-57 and the Mega Ball was 7.
The Georgia jackpot winning ticket wasn’t the only lucky ticket. A ticket purchased in Michigan matched 5 plus the 3X Multiplier for a $3 million prize.
Mega Millions tickets start at $5 apiece.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.