A single, simple R$6 ticket purchased at a lottery shop in the Mangabeira district of João Pessoa is among six tickets that shared the top prize in the Mega da Virada, the Caixa Econômica Federal confirmed. The ticket matched the six drawn numbers exactly and will yield R$181,892,881.09 to its holder once the prize is claimed.
Brazil Mega da Virada winner
Caixa and local news outlet g1 reported that the winning slip was bought individually at a retail outlet on Avenida Josefa Taveira, one of João Pessoa’s main thoroughfares. The draw produced the numbers 9, 13, 21, 32, 33 and 59. Alongside the João Pessoa ticket, winners were identified in Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo and through three internet entries, with the six tickets splitting the record prize.
According to Caixa procedures, prizes of this magnitude must be collected in person at a bank agency because of the financial volume involved. At the time of reporting, it was not yet confirmed whether the João Pessoa winner had come forward to claim the money.
Valdênia Barbosa, manager of the Mangabeira lottery shop that sold the winning ticket, told g1 that the play was a straightforward single bet, without additional combinations. “(The person paid) R$6 on the single game. Luck literally makes the difference. It is a great blessing. It is determined by God,” she said.
The Mega da Virada draw also produced widespread secondary payouts. Caixa reported that 3,921 bets matched five numbers, each receiving R$11,931.42, while 308,315 players who matched four numbers will receive R$216.76 each. Tens of thousands of smaller prizes were distributed across the country, underscoring the broad reach of the special draw.
Barbosa noted that her lottery shop has a track record of significant payouts. She recalled paying substantial prizes in Lotofácil contests and participating in jackpot shares in previous Mega Sena draws, including quina wins achieved by the shop’s own syndicate.
The Mega da Virada special draw, traditionally held on 31 December, was delayed and took place on Thursday 1 January after an extraordinary surge in last-minute betting. Caixa said the record prize prompted unprecedented demand on both digital and retail channels, with peaks of 120,000 transactions per second online and 4,745 transactions per second at lottery outlets. The overload led to postponements in several contests prior to the Mega da Virada draw.
For winners, the procedural requirement to collect large prizes in person means the public will shortly learn whether the João Pessoa ticket holder presents themselves at a Caixa branch. In the meantime, the announcement has sparked excitement in the local community and drawn attention to the lottery shop’s history of notable wins.
Authorities and lottery operators continue to urge ticket-holders to check their numbers carefully and follow Caixa guidance on prize claims and security to ensure a smooth payment process for those fortunate enough to match the draw.
Key Takeaways:
- Brazil Mega da Virada winner in João Pessoa after a single R$6 bet secures R$181,892,881.09.
- Six tickets shared the jackpot; other winners came from Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo and online entries.
- Thousands won secondary prizes; 3,921 matched five numbers and 308,315 matched four.
- Large payouts must be collected in person at Caixa agencies due to the sums involved.
