Anonymous winner of $348 million jackpot says they plan to buy a riding lawn mower
RELEASE DATE: 8/14/2025
The largest jackpot ever won in Virginia has been claimed by an anonymous winner. And just what does that person plan to do with their winnings? They told Virginia Lottery officials they plan to buy a zero-radius riding lawn mower.
The $348 million jackpot in the June 27 Mega Millions drawing was won by a single ticket, which was bought at E & C Mid Atlantic, located at 14878 Northumberland Highway in Burgess, Virginia. That ticket matched all six winning numbers: 18-21-29-42-50 and the Mega Ball number 2.
About four weeks after the drawing, the winner walked into Virginia Lottery headquarters in Richmond and presented Lottery officials with that ticket.
Virginia law permits any winner of a prize worth $1 million and greater to claim the prize anonymously, in which case the Lottery does not publicly disclose the winner’s identity.
The winner had the choice of taking the $348 million jackpot in annual payments over 30 years or a one-time cash option of $155.6 million before taxes. They chose the cash option.
On July 22, Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid R. Jones was at the store to present E & C Mid-Atlantic Vice President of Operations Juan Torres with a check for the $50,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
This is the 10th Mega Millions jackpot won in Virginia since the game began in 2002.
All Virginia Lottery profits go to K-12 education in Virginia. In Fiscal Year 2025, the Lottery raised more than $901 million for K-12 education, making up approximately 10 percent of Virginia’s total K-12 school budget.
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Media contact: Virginia Lottery Communications and Customer Relations, (804) 692-7778