A happy holiday, indeed, for one New Jersey resident.

The New Jersey Lottery announced Dec. 23 that a Garden State player has submitted the winning ticket for the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot drawing in March.

At the time, it was reported that the winning ticket had been sold at ShopRite Wines & Liquors in Neptune Township – with the ticket matching the winning numbers of 07, 11, 22, 29, and 38 as well as the Gold Mega Ball Number 04 – and the multiplier number of 02.

However, nobody had come forward to claim the award, which is the fifth highest in the game’s nearly 30-year history, until Monday’s announcement. Here in New Jersey, players have one year to claim the prize before the ticket expires. Winners of large jackpots tend to take their time to file the claim and begin the process of collecting the prize.

The winning New Jerseyan has chosen to remain anonymous, according to the New Jersey Lottery, and has decided to receive the cash value of the prize, which is $537.5 million before state and federal taxes. A 2020 New Jersey law allows for lottery winners to remain anonymous indefinitely.

The ShopRite, which is owned by Saker ShopRites Inc., announced plans in March to donate its $30,000 seller bonus to charity. Richard Saker, president and CEO of the family-owned grocery company, said the money would go to Fulfill, the community food bank that serves the Jersey Shore through ShopRite’s Partners in Caring program.

“We at ShopRite are really thrilled for the winner. We’re thrilled for the State of New Jersey,” said Saker. “We’re thrilled for this community, Neptune.”

Lottery officials note that another big jackpot is looming on the horizon – with it currently at $970 million heading into Tuesday’s drawing. That would be the seventh largest in history.