Eastern Kentucky Man Wins Mega Money Jackpot

An Eastern Kentucky man has won one of the largest online prizes in Kentucky Lottery history, totaling more than $859,000, the lottery announced Thursday. 

The man, who according to the lottery wishes to remain anonymous, wagered $5 through the Kentucky Lottery app on its Jackpot Spectacular game. All told, he won $859,001.91, the largest online instant play prize awarded in the game’s history, the lottery said in a Jan. 23 news release. 

According to the game’s rules, for a $5 wager, the odds of winning the progressive jackpot are at 1 in 10 million, making the man very lucky indeed. To win any prize at that price point, the odds are 1 in 3.97.

Along with the Outlaw’s Loot game, the Jackpot Spectacular is one of two Kentucky Lottery games to feature the Mega Money Jackpot. As a progressive, linked jackpot pool, it’s funded by multiple states. The man’s win marks the first time a Kentucky player has claimed the Mega Money Jackpot, the Kentucky Lottery said.

Collecting his winnings at lottery headquarters in Louisville, the man went home with a check for $618,481.37 after taxes. He was visibly emotional at the event, according to lottery officials.

The man plans to help others with the money, including by paying off his son and daughter-in-law’s house and donating some of the winnings to charity.