Last month’s big lottery winners and the 31 who split $2 million

It’s not often that you have 31 people share a big Connecticut Lottery jackpot.

But it did happen last month when members of The Lottery Club pooled money to buy tickets for the Aug. 24 Mega Millions drawing.

One of those tickets purchased at Wheels Convenience Store in Fairfield had the winning numbers of 1 - 6 - 13 - 18 - 49, Mega Ball 8 and Megaplier 2.

And because the Mega Millions “Quick Pick” ticket was purchased (with another buck) with the Megaplier feature added, the $1 million prize was automatically multiplied by two for $2 million.

Six years ago, Karen Cross, of Trumbull, organized the “Lottery Club” at her place of work at Al Filippone Associates at William Raveis Real Estate in Fairfield, where she collected the money, bought the tickets and checked the numbers after every drawing.

After the drawing, Cross discovered one ticket that missed the winning Mega Ball number, but matched the first five white ball numbers drawn.

“I wasn’t sure what we won,” she told Lottery officials. “I thought it was $5,000 at first, but we were optimistic.”

Cross returned to Wheels and scanned the ticket, while co-worker Vicki Ihlefeld, of Fairfield, FaceTimed with two other members of the Lottery Club back at the office.

When the congratulatory message “Winner $2,000,000” popped up on the Ticket Checker, they were all shocked.

“We stayed quiet and held it together in the store — we got goosebumps, but when we got inside the car we both just started screaming,” she told lottery officials.

On Sept. 6, a few members of The Lottery Club went to Connecticut Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill to claim their jackpot.

Because the lottery lists the names of its games’ winners on its web site, the members of the Lottery Club has been revealed.

All 31 members of The Lottery Club split the jackpot, each receiving $64,516.

Here are other winners who won $10,000 or more playing Connecticut Lottery games:

Elizabeth Rosas, of Danbury; $25,000 on a Cashword ticket sold at Stogey Cigarette and Tobacco in Danbury.

Jennifer Romano, of Bethel; $50,000 on a Jewels Galore ticket sold at Church Street Food in Torrington.

Eileen Gillis, of Sherman; $10,000 on a 30X Cash ticket sold at J&R Business Services in Brookfield.

Mary Ann Carlson, of Danbury; $10,000 on a $100,000 Cashword ticket sold at Stop & Shop in Norwalk.