The Mega Millions winner is no other than Ira Curry, a 56-year-old woman from Stone Mountain, Georgia. She won half of the $648 million jackpot - the second largest lottery prize in America's history. Instead of getting the full amount of cash prize in annuity, the Mega Millions winner opted to take the cash option which left her with approximately $120 million.

According to the Mega Millions winner, the numbers that she selected were a combination of her family members' birthdays including the lucky number 7. Georgia Lottery president Debbie Alford mentioned that the Curry purchased the ticket as a last-minute decision. The winner purchased her ticket in an Atlanta newsstand. After the announcer declared that 7 was the Mega ball number, Curry immediately asked her daughter to check the numbers online. Two tickets matched the Mega Millions numbers. After deducting federal taxes (25%) and Georgia's taxes (6%), she will be taking home exactly $119,935,622.32

"I was in a state of disbelief. I still didn't believe it when my daughter told me," the winner said. The winning Mega Millions numbers were 8,14,17,20, and 39 while the Mega ball was 7. On the other hand, twenty ticket holders will take home $1 million each after having all correct numbers except the Mega ball. 

Due to the recent change in rules, the game became tougher to win. The jackpot surged to $648 million because no winners have been declared in the previous drawings.

It is truly a game of luck because according to Lottery Post, "winning the Mega Millions is akin to getting struck by lightning at the same time you're being eaten by a shark." There is 1 in 276 million chances of winning the Mega Millions.