Mega Millions: Maryland Winner Claims Share of £413m Jackpot

The holder of the mega millions ticket from the US state of Maryland has come forward to claim a share of the $656m (£413m) prize, but has vowed to remain anonymous, lottery officials said.

The winner claimed the prize at the lottery headquarters with a ticket matching all six numbers: 2-4-23-38-46 and the mega ball, 23, the Baltimore Sun quoted Maryland Lottery spokeswoman Carole Everett as saying.

Although the winner will remain anonymous, the lottery officials will share some details at a press conference.

The winning ticket was bought at a 7-Eleven shop in Milford Mill, Baltimore.

Last week, the mega millions became complex. A woman from Westport, Maryland, drew attention when she revealed that she had bought one of the winning tickets that were sold nationwide.

Mirlande Wilson, a 37-year-old woman who emigrated from Haiti, initially claimed that she had won a share of the prize.

Her co-workers also claimed a share of the jackpot. They said Wilson bought the ticket as part of a syndicate and that she should share the winnings. Wilson acknowledged purchasing tickets for the pool, but said she bought the winning ticket with her own money.

She told the New York Post that she would not share the prize with her co-workers.

Wilson made several claims she had hidden the ticket at her workplace (McDonald's) and that she was not sure the ticket was a winner. She also claimed that she had lost the ticket.

Officials have declined to say whether the Maryland winner is Mirlande Wilson, according to Reuters.

The mega millions jackpot was the biggest lottery prize in US history. The winner will split the prize with two other winners from Kansas and Illinois. The winner from Kansas has already claimed one third of the $656m prize while remaining anonymous. The Illinois winner has yet to claim the prize.