The Mega Millions lottery jackpot soared past the $1 billion mark Wednesday with no winners having been drawn, but a runner-up in Tuesday night’s drawing will become a millionaire nonetheless.
State lottery officials announced that the runner-up ticket was sold at the Circle K convenience store, located within the Exxon station at 200 Route 35, Point Pleasant Beach, at the foot of the bridge to Brielle.
The two second-tier prizewinning tickets sold for the Tuesday, July 26, drawing – the other was sold in Bergen County – matched five of the five white balls drawn winning the $1,000,000 prize.
In addition to the second-tier prize won, seven players matched four of the five white balls and the Mega Ball drawn winning the $10,000 third-tier prize. One of those tickets was purchased with the Megaplier option, multiplying the prize to $30,000. Of these, one was sold locally, at PJ’s Car Wash on Route 35 in Wall Township.
Additionally, 199 players matched four of the five white balls drawn making each ticket worth $500. Seven of those tickets were purchased with the Megaplier option, multiplying the prizes to $1,500. Finally, 333,877 other New Jersey players took home $1,401,786 in prizes ranging from $2 to $600.
The winning numbers for the Tuesday, July 26, drawing were: 07, 29, 60, 63, and 66. The Gold Mega Ball was 15, and the Megaplier Multiplier was 03.
The next drawing will be held Friday, July 29, at 11 p.m. All New Jersey Lottery Mega Millions tickets must be purchased before 10:45 pm to participate in the drawing. Tickets cost $2, lottery officials said, with additional options to increase winnings. The jackpot for Friday’s drawing is now worth $1,025,000,000.