Minnesota's first-ever Mega Millions winning ticket sold in Ramsey

(FOX 9) - Minnesota has its first-ever Mega Millions jackpot winner. And it is fair to say, the winner or winners, if it is a shared lottery ticket, are mega rich.

State lottery officials confirm Tuesday night’s Mega Millions jackpot-winning ticket was sold at a Holiday station store in the city of Ramsey.

The jackpot’s total value is worth $110 million. Or a winner can choose a lump sum cash payout of $67.3 million. It is the 5th largest jackpot ever won in Minnesota. The top four are all Powerball jackpots.

"It is absolutely a life-changing dollar amount, that's for certain," said Minnesota Lottery Executive Director Adam Prock, who visited the Holiday store on Wednesday to help celebrate the occasion.

A winner had yet to come forward and claim the money at the close of business a day later.

The winning numbers were 2-8-14-20-31 and the Mega Ball of 17.

Minnesota first added the nationwide Mega Millions lottery game in 2010. Tuesday the very first time the winning ticket was sold in the state. It was the only winning ticket in the drawing.

"It definitely is a nice sum of money," added Prock.

Outside the Holiday store at the gas pumps, locals who spoke to FOX 9 were excited to hear the news.

David Bemis of Andover said his biggest lottery win was a $200 prize that he recalls fondly, "Wow, that’s awesome. I wish that I bought that ticket."

Nicholas Capps, who lives right in Ramsey and wondered if the jackpot winner might be close by, said, "I just heard that someone won Mega Millions. I was like, Woah, that’s crazy. I had no idea it was the first winner in Minnesota. That’s so cool."

Because of Minnesota’s new lottery anonymity laws, it is likely we may never know who actually purchased the winning ticket. They would have to publicly identify themselves. If you have the ticket, you are advised to connect with state Lottery officials at their Roseville headquarters. Check those tickets!