Winning numbers drawn for $980 million Mega Millions jackpot

All right, here they are. Your winning Megaillion jackpot numbers. Good luck. 1 8 11 12 57 and the Mega Ball is 7. The nearly 1 billion dollar jackpot had people flocking to stores to get their tickets hoping to become a multi-millionaire. And people are certainly dreaming big. Action News reporter Leland Pender joins us live from Winwood and has device advice from financial experts tonight. Sorry, Leland. Better luck next time, huh? [laughter] >> Rick, there it is. $980 million. Uh, this is nearly a billion dollars here. And that much money, there's no shortage of things you can dream about doing with it. But financial experts say if you beat the odds and win, the real winning is knowing how to manage that money wisely. >> That's the the the dream, right? The windfall. Life changes. You you can purchase anything you want at that point. The Megaillions jackpot has soared to $980 million. As people dream big, financial experts warn without the right guidance, the dream can quickly turn into a nightmare. So, what should you do if you win? >> Hire a certified financial planner. Um, hire a certified public accountant and hire a lawyer because your life is is really about to change. >> The cash payout option, a staggering $452.2 million. And while the odds of winning are one in 290 million, that's not stopping hopefuls from taking a shot. >> I would probably disappear for about a month vacation. >> That's so many people who I could share with. >> Just taking care of my family and my kids. >> Experts say claim your prize anonymously if your state allows it. That's the case in New Jersey and Delaware. If not, consider a trust or LLC. And don't rush to make big purchases all at once. The key is to be disciplined and think long term. There's going to be some spending that happens right away, but let's try to figure out what that number is going to be and really be disciplined with capping that number. >> When it comes to hitting it big, dreaming is free. >> You got to be in it to win it. >> But winning comes with responsibility if you want to sustain that high and newfound peace of mind. >> And I've hit a couple times before on some smaller stuff. So, why not take a shot on the big one? >> Yeah, that is a big one. and Rick. Uh, experts say another thing to look out for, be careful how much you say yes to those long lost friends that suddenly show up or those relatives you haven't talked to in a while. It's it's natural to want to help out and be kind, but that can certainly drain you quickly. Good luck if you played. I did not win. I did pick up my ticket. I am not a litterbug. We're live here in Winwood. Leland Pender, Channel 6 Action News. Rick. >> All right. Because you certainly going to get some messages on Facebook if you did. Thank you, Leela.