Lottery winners still unknown

BALTIMORE – The record-breaking Mega Millions jackpot climbed to $656 million on Monday, though no one holding one of the three winning tickets has come forward to claim a share of the prize, officials said.

Three tickets – one each in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland – will split the jackpot, which officials said Monday was higher than previously estimated. It is now at $656 million, after sales from the 44 state lotteries were totaled, up from the previously reported $640 million. That means each winner would receive roughly $218 million apiece before taxes.

Winners in all three states have several months – in the case of Kansas, a year – to claim the prize. Both Maryland and Kansas allow winners to remain anonymous, though the winner in Illinois will be identified.