Palos Heights Woman Steps Forward To Claim Illinois Lottery's Largest Jackpot Prize In History

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL -- The winner of Illinois’s largest lottery jackpot prize in history has stepped forward, and she’s Pat Busking of Palos Heights. Busking said she doesn’t play the lottery on a regular basis, “just when it gets big.” She bought a single Mega Millions quick pick ticket at Nick’s BBQ in Palos Heights for the Aug. 11 drawing, but waited a few weeks before coming forward.

Busking was at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago on Friday to claim her $393 million prize and receive her ceremonial giant check from Illinois Lottery Director Greg Smith. She described the last few weeks as overwhelming.

“The last two weeks have been a whirlwind,” Busking said. “It has been amazing to think how lucky we were to be in the right place and right time.”Asked what she felt when she realized she had matched all the numbers on her Mega Millions ticket, Busking said she still couldn’t believe it.

“It was a surreal, an out of body experience when I saw all those numbers that matched,” she said, who let the computer pick the winning numbers -- 23 – 33 – 53 – 56 – 58.

Busking said that she and her husband, Joe, plan to share their jackpot winnings with family and friends. The couple also looks forward to donating to some of their favorite charities.

“There are a few organizations near and dear to our hearts that have touched our lives,” Busking said. “It will be a pleasure to donate to them.”

Nick’s BBQ will also receive a $500,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. Since the Illinois Lottery’s inception, Smith claimed the lottery has delivered $19 billion to K-12 education in the state, as well as substantial sums to other beneficiaries.

~ Pat Busking, Mega Millions Lotto winer via Facebook