Paul Wegener of Merrill is not easily daunted by big numbers, or big dollars, having spent years in the insurance business. So when he realized he had the jackpot winning ticket in the Wisconsin Lottery’s June 22 $1.4 million Megabucks drawing, he didn’t exactly overreact.
He called his tax accountant.
Wegener brought the $1.4 million Megabucks ticket to the Lottery’s Madison headquarters Thursday. He said he waited to claim his prize in hopes that the interest surrounding the jackpot would die down.
Wegener chose the $953,000 cash option on the $1.4 million annuity jackpot prize. He received a bank wire for $640,000.
He declined to take part in a news conference.
The June 22 winning Megabucks numbers were 03, 10, 12, 15, 30 and 41. Wegener, an infrequent lottery player, matched those six winning numbers with a ticket he purchased at Drew’s Piggly Wiggly in Merrill. For selling that jackpot ticket, Drew’s earned a $28,000 commission from the Lottery. Lottery retailers who sell winning tickets with prizes of $600 or more earn the equivalent of 2% of the prize, up to a maximum commission of $100,000.
Megabucks is a jackpot game played only in Wisconsin, with drawings every Wednesday and Saturday. Jackpots begin at $1 million and grow based on sales. Players receive two plays for $1 and win the jackpot by matching the six winning numbers drawn. The odds of winning the Megabucks jackpot are 1:7 million.