What players need to know if they win the Mega Millions jackpot prize worth $ 868 million this week

A lucky lottery winner could win more than $ 800 million this week, one of the biggest jackpots in Mega Millions history.

The jackpot reached a new record of $ 868 million, the largest in the history of the game, with a cash option of $ 494 million.

The numbers shot for the Mega Millions on Tuesday were 3-45-49-61-69 and a Mega Ball of 9. Nobody tied the five numbers and the Mega Ball, pushing the total to the second-biggest gain of the day. History of the American lottery. . Only the $ 1.59 billion payment to Powerball in January 2016 was more important.

The combined value of Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots far exceeds one billion dollars.

The $ 345 million draw on Powerball ($ 199 million cash option) will be held Wednesday night.

ABC News has talked to several financial advisors about how winners can keep their heads and their winnings.

The best thing a winner can do is to remain discreet and remain anonymous as long as possible, told ABC News Kurt Panouses, Financial Advisor and Chartered Accountant, who helped a Florida couple who won a part of the biggest jackpot of all time.

"The initial concern of the ticket is probably the most important part of planning," said Panouse. "What the person should do is protect the ticket, keep it safe, put it in a safe place, but do not sign the back of the ticket."

"Whoever signs the back of the ticket is the person who must claim the ticket and the product," said Panouse.

Although Panouse's advice is sound, it is not part of the long-standing traditions of most states that organize lottery games.

In all but six US, winners must present themselves and identify themselves at a lottery press conference. Press conferences – with balloons, media, big winners and oversized checks – are essential to the marketing of lottery games.

US state gambling officials said the promotion and display of new winners on television regularly reminded other players that one really had to be there to win it, as the saying goes.

The states that allow the winners to remain in the lottery to remain anonymous are Maryland, Delaware, Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina.

Gerry Broome / AP, DOSSIER

Panouses also suggested making a copy of the note and calling on a tax expert and a lawyer to help them manage the funds and offer investment advice.

"The tax rate is the highest rate it is in. In 2018, it will be 2.6% lower than in 2017. Again, if you're talking about $ 300 million, it could represent from seven to eight million dollars in finance to have in their pocket by claiming it in 2018, "he said about the payment made under the new tax law.

A group of 20 colleagues from the North American Stamping Group, who won a $ 420.9 million Powerball jackpot in 2016, shared the winnings.

One of the women in the group used the money to give it back to those in need, including her own family, she told ABC News.

"Seeing my family in better shape, it's a blessing," said Amy O. Neal.

If there is a winner, he can choose an annuity to receive 30 payments over 29 years or take a lump sum.

Experts suggest that players use the full range of available numbers and do not limit their chances by playing only numbers such as birthdays, because the months do not count more than 31 days and the numbers in Powerball go up to 69.

The biggest Mega Millions jackpot in history is $ 656 million. Three winners from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland shared this record award in March 2012.