Illinois Is Searching for 2 Unidentified Mystery Millionaires

Authorities in Illinois are looking for two individuals in completely different places who are now mystery millionaires, but have yet to come forward to identify themselves.

According to the Illinois Lottery, someone stopped by this store in Spring Grove on September 28, 2026

Google Maps Street View

This Jewel/Osco is located at 2401 US-12 in Spring Grove. The Powerball ticket that someone walked out with on September 28 is now worth $1,000,000, but the prize is unclaimed.

A few days later on October 3, 2026, someone else stopped by this Chicago place and picked up a Lotto ticket

Google Maps Street View

That Lotto ticket is now worth $1,000,000, too. Both of these million dollar prizes are now listed on the Illinois Lottery's Unclaimed Jackpots and Prizes site. The good news for both winners is they have one full calendar year to claim a lottery prize in Illinois.

How much would the take-home cash be for a million dollar Illinois Lottery prize after taxes?

• Initial Federal Withholding (24%): $240,000
• Initial Illinois State Withholding (4.95%): $49,500
• Illinois requires a mandatory 4.95% state income tax withholding on prizes over $1,000.
• Initial Take-Home Check: $710,500
• Additional Progressive Tax Owed: ~$36,457
• A $1,000,000 lump sum pushes a large portion of your windfall into higher federal marginal tax brackets (up to 37%).
• True Final Take-Home Cash: ~$674,043

That's a lot of money going to the tax man, but figuring out how to divide that kind of cash up would be a problem many people would like to have. Are you one of the mystery Illinois people that are now wealthy beyond your wildest dreams?