The missed deadline has left the lucky winner empty-handed, as they failed to step forward and claim their enormous prize from the August drawing.

According to Michelle Griner, a spokesperson with the Florida Lottery, the unclaimed ticket is now worth nothing more than the paper it was printed on. The deadline to claim the prize was Sunday, marking the end of the 180-day claim period.

The winning ticket, bearing the numbers 18-39-42-57-63, was purchased at a Publix store in Jacksonville. The Mega Ball number, which could have added to the massive winnings, was 7 with a multiplier of 3x. Sadly, this remains as the only unclaimed Mega Millions jackpot ticket in 2023, as reported by the Mega Millions website.

While it is not uncommon for smaller prizes to go unclaimed, million-dollar rewards being forfeited do occur. In 2021, a $26 million prize in California went unclaimed after a woman mistakenly washed the ticket with her laundry. Similarly, in 2011, a Powerball ticket worth $77 million went unclaimed in Georgia.

Florida law mandates that 80% of the unclaimed prize funds be transferred to a trust fund for education, with the remainder being held for the prize pool, as per the state lottery regulations. Although the potential winner has lost out on a life-changing fortune, the funds will still benefit education in the state.

It serves as a reminder for lottery players to be vigilant and check their tickets promptly after each drawing to avoid missing out on their chance to claim a significant windfall. As the Florida Lottery encourages, "Don't let your dreams slip away - claim your prizes on time!"

It is now a tale of missed opportunity and a cautionary reminder of the importance of timely claiming a lottery prize. The $36 million Mega Millions jackpot will remain unclaimed, leaving an unfortunate void that could have changed someone's life forever.