Single Ticket In South Carolina Wins $1.6B Mega Millions Jackpot

If lottery officials in South Carolina seem just a bit anxious, who could blame them?

A flimsy little piece of paper that crossed the counter of a convenience store on a country road in Simpsonville, South Carolina, is now worth $1.537 billion, and they apparently don't know the winner.

So lottery officials turned to Twitter to reach out, saying: "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!"

The six winning numbers, 5, 28, 62, 65, 70 and Mega Ball 5 were drawn Tuesday night. 

Early Wednesday, Mega Millions tweeted the news.

Tickets had to match all five white balls and the yellow Mega Ball to claim total victory. But lottery officials say 8 tickets were sold in California that matched 5 of the 6 numbers needed to win. The amount each ticket is worth hasn't been announced. 

The jackpot's estimated cash value is $913 million, an option favored by most winners. Otherwise, the jackpot is doled out over 29 years. 

Tuesday's jackpot has been soaring since July, when a group of office workers in California won $543 million.

Mega Millions has more than 302 million possible number combinations. Lottery officials had expected to sell 75 percent of them by Tuesday night's drawing, where Mega Millions host John Crow announced the winning numbers.

Mega Millions tickets are $2 and are sold in 44 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Officials say the previous record Mega Millions jackpot was $656 million, which was shared by winners in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland in the drawing on March 30, 2012.

Powerball will hold its drawing Wednesday night for a jackpot estimated at $620 million or a cash value of $354.3 million.