Man, 87, Breaks Hip and Then Wins Part of $1 Million Mega Millions Prize

An 87-year-old man broke his hip and then won a portion of a $1 million Mega Millions lottery pool, CBS News reported.

Earl Livingston was walking to buy a lottery ticket when he broke the bone and was hospitalized.

He told hospital staff at Jefferson Stratford Hospital in New Jersey that “he was on his way to buy a lottery ticket and he was disappointed that he didn’t get it,” his niece, Bobbie Mickle told CBS. “So they said, ‘Why don’t you go in with us? We’re also buying a lottery ticket.’”

The pool that he joined included 141 other people. That means he won about $7,000, before taxes.

“I didn’t believe him when I got here,” added Mickle. “I thought he was confused, maybe from pain meds. And then the staff came into the room and they were saying congratulations. And I was like, ‘Wow, he really did win.’”

He sent a message via CBS: “I want to thank everybody. I appreciate very much and God bless you and have a happy, happy long life!”

The Mega Millions jackpot of $1.537 billion was won by an unidentified person in South Carolina.

WIS-TV reported that the identity of the person who won might never be known because South Carolina is one of several states that don’t require lottery winners to be identified. The winner of the prize has 180 days to come forward to claim it, according to WIS-TV.

“South Carolina has sold its 1st Mega Millions jackpot winning ticket! The ticket sold for last night’s drawing is worth more than $1.5 BILLION. #checkyourtickets,” the South Carolina Education Lottery wrote on Twitter.

“Our message to the $1.5 BILLION #Mega Millions jackpot winner: Sign the back of the ticket, place the ticket in a safe location, speak with a trusted advisor and CALL THE LOTTERY at 1-866-736-9819. Take a deep breath and enjoy the moment!” said the lottery on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the Powerball jackpot swelled to $750 million after nobody won. The next drawing is Saturday, Oct. 28.

Largest Jackpots

Other than the Mega Millions drawing this week, here are the 10 largest U.S. jackpots that have been won and the states where the winning tickets were sold, according to The Associated Press:

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

2. $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017 (one ticket, from Massachusetts)

3. $656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012 (three tickets, from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland)

4. $648 million, Mega Millions, Dec. 17, 2013 (two tickets, from California and Georgia)

5. $590.5 million, Powerball, May 18, 2013 (one ticket, from Florida)

6. $587.5 million, Powerball, Nov. 28, 2012 (two tickets, from Arizona and Missouri)

7. $564.1 million, Powerball, Feb. 11, 2015 (three tickets, from North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Texas)

8. $559.7 million, Powerball, Jan. 6, 2018 (one ticket, New Hampshire)

9. $543 million, Mega Millions, July 24, 2018 (one ticket, California)

10. $536 million, Mega Millions, July 8, 2016 (one ticket, from Indiana)

The Associated Press contributed to this report.