Lightning struck twice in 2025, and this time, the thunder was heard all the way in Cortland, Illinois. If you were holding a ticket for the Mega Millions March 25th drawing, you probably remember the buzz. The jackpot had climbed to a staggering $349 million. Honestly, it's the kind of money that makes even the most skeptical person think, "Why not me?"
A single ticket sold at a Casey’s General Store on South Somonauk Road matched every single number. It wasn't just a big win; it was a life-altering moment for someone who remains, as of now, anonymous. Illinois is one of those states where you can keep your name out of the headlines if you win big, which is probably a relief when you're suddenly looking at a cash value of $161.4 million.
The winning numbers were 1, 5, 17, 39, and 62, with the gold Mega Ball being 8.
The Breakdown of the Mega Millions March 25th Drawing
Lottery games aren't just about the jackpot. Sure, that's what gets the billboards and the morning news segments, but the March 25th draw was actually pretty busy across the board. While that one person in Illinois took the top prize, they weren't the only ones celebrating.
In Florida, someone matched all five white balls but missed the Mega Ball. That's a $1 million consolation prize. Imagine that—missing one number and "only" getting a million dollars. It's a weird kind of heartbreak, but one most of us would take in a heartbeat.
Nationwide, over 600,000 tickets won some level of prize that night.
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Payout Tiers and the Megaplier Factor
The Megaplier for the Mega Millions March 25th draw was 2X. If you aren't familiar with how that works, it basically doubles any non-jackpot prize. It’s an extra dollar when you buy the ticket, and for some people, it paid off.
- Third Tier: 18 people matched four white balls and the Mega Ball. Eleven of them won $10,000, but seven had the Megaplier, doubling their take to $20,000.
- Lower Tiers: Thousands of people won smaller amounts, ranging from $2 to $1,000.
It's actually pretty rare to see a jackpot hit right before a major rule change. Just two weeks after this drawing, Mega Millions overhauled its game structure, making the March 25th win one of the last "classic" big wins before the price of tickets increased and the odds shifted.
Why This Specific Win Matters
Cortland is a small town. About an hour west of Chicago, it's the kind of place where people know the clerks at the local Casey’s. When news broke that the $349 million ticket was sold there, the store itself became a bit of a local landmark.
The Illinois Lottery also gets a win here. They give a bonus to the retailer that sells the winning ticket, so that Casey's likely saw a nice $500,000 commission just for being the place where a lucky stranger stopped to buy their numbers.
"It's exciting for the community," said one local resident in a news interview shortly after the draw. "You always think it happens somewhere else, but then you see it's right down the street."
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Most people don't realize that the "estimated jackpot" is an annuity. If the Illinois winner chose the 30-year payment plan, they'd get the full $349 million over time. But let's be real: almost everyone takes the cash. That $161.4 million lump sum is a lot less than the headline number, but after federal taxes (24% off the top) and Illinois state taxes (another 4.95%), the winner still walked away with roughly $114.6 million in the bank.
Common Misconceptions About Big Drawings
There's always talk about "hot" and "cold" numbers. People look at the Mega Millions March 25th results and try to find a pattern. Honestly? There isn't one. The balls are drawn randomly.
Some players think that if a number like 1 or 5 was drawn recently, it won't show up again. But the machine has no memory. It doesn't care that 17 was a lucky number three weeks ago. Every drawing is a fresh start.
Another myth is that you're more likely to win if you buy your ticket in a "lucky" state like New York or California. While more winners do come from those states, it's simply because they have more people buying tickets. The odds are 1 in 302,575,350 regardless of whether you’re in a bustling city or a quiet corner of Cortland.
What to Do If You Ever Hold the Winning Ticket
If you find yourself looking at the numbers from a draw like the one on March 25th and realizing they match yours, stop. Don't run to the gas station. Don't call your boss.
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- Sign the back of the ticket. In many jurisdictions, a lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument." This basically means whoever holds it, owns it.
- Put it in a safe place. A fireproof safe or a bank safety deposit box is your best friend.
- Hire the "Three Musketeers." You need a lawyer, a tax professional, and a reputable financial advisor. You want people who have dealt with high-net-worth individuals before.
- Check your state's anonymity laws. As we saw with the Illinois winner, some states let you stay quiet. Others, like California, require your name to be public. If you must go public, delete your social media and maybe change your phone number before the news breaks.
The Mega Millions March 25th winner did it the right way. They've stayed out of the spotlight, likely working with a team to ensure that $161 million lasts for generations rather than ending up as a "lottery curse" story five years from now.
Lessons From the March 25th Draw
The most important takeaway from the Mega Millions March 25th results isn't the giant number. It’s the realization that while the jackpot is a dream, the lottery is ultimately a form of entertainment.
The people who won $2 or $10 that night probably didn't have their lives changed, but they got a bit of a thrill for a few dollars. The person in Cortland, however, provides the proof that someone, somewhere, eventually beats those 300-million-to-one odds.
If you're still chasing that dream, remember to play responsibly. Set a budget, stick to it, and never spend money you need for rent or groceries on a game of chance. The numbers 1, 5, 17, 39, 62 and 8 are now part of lottery history, but the next set of numbers is always just a few days away.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your old tickets. Believe it or not, millions in prizes go unclaimed every year. If you have a stack of tickets in your glove box, go through them now.
- Review your state's rules. If you’re a regular player, know whether you can remain anonymous in your state. This affects how you should claim a prize.
- Verify the current rules. Remember that Mega Millions changed its structure shortly after the March 2025 draws; make sure you're aware of the current ticket prices and Megaplier options before your next purchase.