$800 Million Mega Millions Ticket Sold at Lakewood Ranch-Area Wawa in Bradenton

Someone who purchased a Mega Millions ticket in the Lakewood Ranch area is holding a piece of paper worth an official $803 million after final sales – up from the advertised $800 million – and, as of the latest Florida Lottery report, the winner had not yet been publicly identified.

The sole jackpot-winning ticket for the Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Mega Millions drawing was sold at the Wawa located at 14510 State Road 70 East in Bradenton, near the intersection of State Road 70 and Lorraine Road.

Although the store has a Bradenton mailing address, it is located in the rapidly growing Lakewood Ranch area of eastern Manatee County.

The winning ticket was a computer-generated Quick Pick that matched all five white balls and the yellow Mega Ball. The winning numbers were:

34, 48, 49, 59 and 70, with Mega Ball 12.

The Florida Lottery confirmed that it was the only ticket nationwide to match all six numbers in the drawing.

Winner Faces an Enormous Financial Decision

The jackpot was advertised at $800 million before the drawing. Final sales lifted the official prize to $803 million, paid as 30 graduated annual installments, with a one-time cash option of $345.5 million before federal taxes. Florida does not impose an individual state income tax, but substantial federal taxes will apply.

Florida jackpot winners have 180 days from the July 28 drawing date to claim the prize. However, anyone choosing the one-time cash option must submit the claim within 60 days of the drawing.

Because the prize exceeds $1 million and includes an annual-payment option, it must be processed through Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee rather than at a local retailer or district office.

Before turning in a ticket of this value, financial professionals generally encourage winners to sign the back, secure it in a safe location and consult qualified legal, tax and financial advisers. A jackpot can create complicated decisions involving taxes, estate planning, charitable giving, personal security and long-term investment management.

Will the Lakewood Ranch Winner Be Identified?

Florida does not provide permanent anonymity to most lottery winners.

Under Florida law, the name of someone claiming a prize worth $250,000 or more is kept confidential for 90 days after the prize is claimed. After that period, the winner’s name generally becomes public record.

The winner’s street address and telephone number remain confidential unless the winner authorizes their release or another legal exception applies.

That 90-day window gives major winners an opportunity to organize their financial affairs and prepare for the public attention that can follow such a large payout.

One of the Largest Mega Millions Jackpots Ever

The $803 million prize was the largest Mega Millions jackpot awarded in 2026 at the time of the drawing and ranked as the 10th-largest jackpot in the game’s history.

The win followed 37 consecutive drawings without a grand-prize winner, making the July 28 drawing the 38th drawing in the jackpot run. It was also the third Mega Millions jackpot won during 2026.

Florida has its own place in Mega Millions history. A ticket sold in Neptune Beach won a record $1.602 billion jackpot in August 2023, which remains the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever awarded.

Florida joined Mega Millions in 2013. According to the Florida Lottery, the game has since generated more than $1 billion for education in Florida and awarded more than $1 billion in prizes to over 87 million players.

Long Odds Produce a Life-Changing Result

Mega Millions tickets currently cost $5 each and include a randomly assigned multiplier that can increase non-jackpot prizes.

Drawings are conducted on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time. The overall odds of winning any prize are approximately 1 in 23, while the odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 290.5 million.

Those extraordinary odds make the State Road 70 Wawa one of the most talked-about convenience stores on the Florida Suncoast.

While thousands of customers pass through the busy Lakewood Ranch-area location for gasoline, coffee, food and everyday purchases, one customer’s routine lottery stop has potentially created one of the biggest financial windfalls in Florida history.

The most important question now is simple: Has the winner checked the ticket?

Anyone who purchased a Mega Millions ticket at the Wawa on State Road 70 East for the July 28 drawing should carefully compare the numbers and keep the ticket secured. Official results and prize-claiming information are available through the Florida Lottery.