| Advertisement |
Georgia Lottery officials have identified the winner of half the $648 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot. Ira Curry, of Stone Mountain, purchased her winning ticket at the Gateway Newstand in Atlanta, picking a combination of family birthday's and her family's lucky number -- 7 -- for the all-important Mega Ball number.
Advertisement
“It’s unreal,” said Curry, 56. “It’s like I’m still dreaming.”
Curry opted to take home the cash option, amounting to $173,819,742.50 before taxes. The other winning ticket was sold in San Jose, Calif.
She said she had been driving when she heard where the winning tickets were sold, and called her daughter to check the numbers.
“I was calm because it was unbelievable,” she said.
Tuesday's winning numbers, 8, 14, 17, 20, 39 with a Mega Ball of 7, were drawn for the second-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history.
[Georgia Lottery]
