An Illinois Lottery player won the March 10, 2026, Mega Millions drawing with an entry bought online. The Lottery reported the jackpot as $536 million in announcements on March 11 and March 18, although the supplied headline figure is $533 million. The winning numbers were 16, 21, 30, 35, 65 and Mega Ball 7.
What happened in the March 10 drawing?
The winning entry matched all five white-ball numbers and the Mega Ball. The Illinois Lottery said it was purchased through its iLottery platform—not at a retail store—and described the jackpot as $536 million in both its March 11 announcement and March 18 claim announcement. Those releases differ from the $533 million figure in the supplied headline; the Lottery’s reported amount is $536 million.
The win was the fifth Mega Millions jackpot won by an Illinois Lottery player in nearly five years, according to the Lottery. It also called the prize the second-largest won by an online lottery player in the United States at that time.
Who claimed the prize?
The winner came forward on March 18 and used the nickname “Lucky Lady.” The Illinois Lottery and the official Mega Millions winner account reported that she chose to remain anonymous.
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She said she selected a Quick Pick, reshuffled the numbers several times, then kept the set that included her favorite number, 16: “Once I saw my favorite number, 16, I stuck with it.” She also said she had tried to buy a ticket online a week earlier but had forgotten to finalize that purchase. Her account describes how she played; it is not evidence that number choices affect the chance of winning.
What do Illinois claim rules say?
The Illinois Lottery’s guidance says Mega Millions prizes must be claimed within one year of the drawing date. A winner who wants the lump-sum option must claim within 60 days of the drawing; after that, only the annuity is available. The guidance says lottery prizes are taxable and recommends consulting a financial or tax professional, the IRS or the Illinois Department of Revenue with tax questions.
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The public announcements do not state which payout option Lucky Lady chose, her tax treatment or her after-tax proceeds. Illinois Lottery guidance also says claimants with prizes of $250,000 or more may request confidentiality for their name and municipality when filing a claim. That is Illinois-specific guidance, not a rule that should be assumed in other states.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How much did the jackpot run contribute to Illinois schools?
The Lottery said the jackpot run generated more than $13 million for the Common School Fund. Its March 11 win announcement reported more than $38 million in Mega Millions sales during the run; its March 18 claim announcement reported more than $34 million in sales for the jackpot-roll period beginning December 5, 2025. The releases do not explain the difference between those sales totals, so they should be treated as separate figures rather than combined.
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