$1.2 billion winning ticket sold in California

On December 28, 2024By Littum

COTTONWOOD, Calif. — A single ticket sold in Northern California matched all six numbers — white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and Mega Ball 6 — to take home the $1.22 billion jackpot in Friday night’s Mega Millions – drawing, according to lottery officials.

The life-changing ticket was sold at Sunshine Food and Gas at 3505 Rhonda Road in Cottonwood, a small town located about 145 miles north of Sacramento in Shasta County, the California Lottery said on its website.

“What a great gift this holiday season,” Joshua Johnston, executive director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said in a statement. “At an incredibly special time of year, this is both an incredibly special moment for our winner and for all the great organizations and causes that benefit from the sale of lottery tickets around the country.”

The $1.22 billion jackpot is the fifth largest in Mega Millions history and the seventh to exceed $1 billion.

Before the drawing, no California Lottery player had ever won a Mega Millions jackpot this big.

Lottery officials said five tickets matched the five white balls to win the game’s second prize. Two were sold in California and one each in Arizona, Missouri and Texas.

The next drawing takes place Tuesday and is worth an estimated $20 million, according to lottery officials.

Check back for updates.

Originally published: 27 December 2024 at 10:36 PM PST