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根据彩票机构规定，售出彩票大奖的商店，可获得大奖奖金1%的奖励，但这个奖励封顶50,000美元，纳税之后商店老板实际可拿到手30,000美元，老板说将与4位员工分享。但这个乡村小商店老板还是嫌奖励太少了。

印度裔商店老板说，他也不知道中奖者是谁，因为那天买彩票的人确实太多了。不过他觉得可能是附近输变电厂的工人，因为他们经常来在这里买彩票。

彩票中奖者的兑奖期限有180天，中奖者可以隐姓埋名。截至2018年10月，只有8个州可以匿名领奖而无须“露脸”，分别是特拉华州、佐治亚州、堪萨斯州、马里兰州、北达科他州、俄亥俄州、南卡罗来纳州和德克萨斯州。但即便如此，也只有彩票中奖奖金达到一定程度才能匿名，而且也很难保证可以长期匿名信而不为人知。

'I can't even count that number': $1.537B Mega Millions ticket sold at South Carolina store

DANIEL J. GROSS, ANNA B. MITCHELL | THE GREENVILLE NEWSUpdated 7:47 a.m. GMT+8 Oct. 25, 2018

Simpsonville owner surprised after store sold winning Mega Millions ticket

C.J. Patel talks to The Greenville News about the store selling the winning lottery ticket for Mega Millions.

ANNA B. MITCHELL, JOSH MORGAN

GREENVILLE, S.C. – C.J. Patel's phone rang the first time at 5 a.m. EDT Wednesday with the news that his store on a rural crossroads in South Carolina had sold the most unlikely lottery ticket in history.

The prize was a staggering $1.537 billion.

"I can't even count that number," Patel said six hours later, surrounded by media and well-wishers at his store, the KC Mart #7 in Simpsonville near Greenville. Outside, a couple of South Carolina Education Lottery officials hung up a banner that read "Luck Struck Here!"

That one person won the jackpot was clear early Wednesday morning. And though lottery officials announced by 11 a.m. that this person had bought the ticket at Patel's store, the winner's identity remained unknown even to those officials late Wednesday.

The ticket buyer has 180 days to step forward, said Tony Cooper, the state lottery's chief operating officer, and that person can choose thereafter to keep his or her name private.

More: There's a winner! Ticket sold for $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot in South Carolina

Stores that sell the winning lottery tickets typically receive 1 percent of the proceeds, but those are capped at $50,000.

"Too bad for me," Patel said laughing, adding that he hopes all the attention will bring his store more business.

After taxes, Patel will have about $30,000, which he said he will share with his four employees.

Patel, born in India, has owned convenience stores around Simpsonville for about 20 years. He first came to the United States in 1996. Before marrying and starting a family with his wife, pharmacist Jayshree Patel, he said he slept in the back of his first store in Simpsonville.

"This is the land of opportunity," Patel said. "We work hard for our kids."

Regular customers streamed into Patel's store Wednesday to congratulate him and his employees.

Taylor Sloan, who lives about 2 miles away, said he had to see it to believe the news that Patel's store had sold the ticket.

“You think maybe there’s a mistake or something, but there’s not.” Sloan held an energy drink and Rice Krispie treats in his hand. “These are just my excuse for coming by."

Cynthia Eldridge chatted with Jee Patel, one of the KC Mart workers, trying to figure out who had bought the winning ticket. Some locals thought maybe the winner works at a nearby transmission plant, she said.

"We always come here," Eldridge said. "I had to get some gas and wanted to congratulate them."

Patel said Wednesday afternoon that he hadn't yet had a chance to share the news with his three school-aged sons. He was sworn to secrecy until the official 11 a.m. announcement.

Rumors swirled in the intervening hours. A Circle K in Columbia had previously told The Greenville News on Wednesday morning that their store had sold the winning ticket, and other store owners also thought theirs might be the lucky spots.

The lottery win is also good news for the state of South Carolina: Income taxes off the prize money will amount to about $60 million, officials said. This is on top of about $10 million in ticket-sale proceeds that will fund education programs.

The winning numbers were 5, 28, 62, 65, 70 and Mega Ball 5.

The public may never know who claims the jackpot. South Carolina is one of eight states where winners can remain anonymous. The others are Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and Texas.

"I have no clue," Patel said when asked if he knew who bought the winning ticket. "We had a lot of customers yesterday, so I have no idea,”

C.J. Patel, left, the owner of KC Mart #7 at 303 Lee Vaughn Road in Simpsonville, at his store in Simpsonville on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. Patel says he will receive about $30,000 for selling the winning Mega Millions ticket.

ANNA B. MITCHELL/THE GREENVILLE NEWS

C.J. Patel, owner of the KC Mart #7 at 303 Lee Vaughn Road in Simpsonville, talks to the media on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, after South Carolina Education Lottery officials announced where the winning Mega Millions jackpot ticket was sold.

ANNA B. MITCHELL/THE GREENVILLE NEWS

Suzanne Slacas, left, and Terry Gist with the SC Lottery hang a banner at the KC Mart in Simpsonville. Lottery officials said someone in South Carolina won the record $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot, and by 11 a.m. Wednesday, announced it was the KC Mart #7 at 303 Lee Vaughn Road in Simpsonville.

ANNA B. MITCHELL/THE GREENVILLE NEWS

Jee Patel, who works at the KC Mart in Simpsonville, puts up a sign Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, after the store sold the winning ticket for the Mega Millions jackpot.

JOSH MORGAN/THE GREENVILLE NEWS

The KC Mart in Simpsonville on Wednesday, Oct 24, 2018, where the jackpot-winning ticket of the Mega Millions lottery was sold.

JOSH MORGAN/THE GREENVILLE NEWS

Simpsonville Mayor Janice Curtis outside the KC Mart on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. The store sold the winning ticket for the Mega Millions jackpot lottery ticket.

JOSH MORGAN/THE GREENVILLE NEWS

Tony Cooper of South Carolina Education Lottery held a news conference in Simpsonville on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, along with KC Mart store owner C.J. Patel. Patel's store sold the winning $1.6 billion Mega Millions lottery ticket.

JOSH MORGAN/THE GREENVILLE NEWS

Tony Cooper of South Carolina Education Lottery held a news conference in Simpsonville on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, along with KC Mart store owner C.J. Patel. Patel's store sold the winning $1.6 billion Mega Millions lottery ticket.

JOSH MORGAN/THE GREENVILLE NEWS

美国彩票历史上的10个大奖

TOP 10

A look at the 10 largest U.S. jackpots that have been won and the states where the winning tickets were sold:

1. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (three tickets, from California, Florida, Tennessee)

2. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (one ticket, South Carolina)

3. $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017 (one ticket, from Massachusetts)

4. $656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012 (three tickets, from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland)

5. $648 million, Mega Millions, Dec. 17, 2013 (two tickets, from California and Georgia)

6. $590.5 million, Powerball, May 18, 2013 (one ticket, from Florida)

7. $587.5 million, Powerball, Nov. 28, 2012 (two tickets, from Arizona and Missouri)

8. $564.1 million, Powerball, Feb. 11, 2015 (three tickets, from North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Texas)

9. $559.7 million, Powerball, Jan. 6, 2018 (one ticket, New Hampshire)

10. $543 million, Mega Millions, July 24, 2018 (one ticket, California)

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Published 7:47 PM EDT Oct 24, 2018

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