Mega Millions 2024 numbers: Winning ticket for $1.22 billion lottery jackpot sold in California

NEW YORK (WABC) — A Mega Millions ticket holder in California has a lot to celebrate after a single ticket sold in the state matched all six numbers drawn on Dec. 27.

Friday’s winning numbers – the white balls, 55, 7, 3, 37, 49 plus Mega Ball 6 in gold.’

The jackpot is worth an estimated $1.22 billion ($549.7 million cash).

It is the fifth largest Mega Millions jackpot in history, and the seventh Mega Millions jackpot of more than $1 billion.

The winning ticket was sold in Cottonwood, California, in the northern part of the state.

Watch Mega Millions drawings every Tuesday and Friday at 10:59 PM ET right here

The December 27 draw alone produced 5,691,299 winning tickets across all prize levels, in addition to the jackpot winning ticket. 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 Mega Millions jackpot was last won when it reached $810 million in Texas on September 10th.

It’s only the fourth Mega Millions jackpot won in 2024, and with just one more drawing this year, odds are the year will end with the fewest jackpots won in any year since the game began in 2002. Out over the Texas win, a $552 million windfall went to an Illinois online player on June 4 (the largest lottery prize ever won with an online ticket purchase), and a huge prize of $1.128 billion was won in New Jersey on March 26.

Mega Millions ticket prices are set to increase from $2 to $5 in April. The increase will be one of many changes that officials say will result in improved jackpot odds, more frequent jackpots and even bigger payouts.

The current odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350 according to Mega Millions.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, DC and the US Virgin Islands.

Top Mega Millions Jackpots

1. $1.602 billion, August 8, 2023 (one ticket in Florida)
2. $1.537 billion, October 23, 2018 (one ticket in South Carolina)
3. $1.348 billion, January 13, 2023 (one ticket in Maine)
4. $1.337 billion, July 29, 2022 (one ticket in Illinois)
5. $1.22 billion, December 27, 2024 (one ticket in California)
6. $1.128 billion, March 26, 2024 (one ticket in New Jersey)
7. $1.050 billion, January 22, 2021 (one ticket in Michigan)
8. $810 million, September 10, 2024 (one ticket in Texas)
9. $656 million, March 30, 2012 (three tickets in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland)
10. $648 million, December 17, 2013 (two tickets sold in California, Georgia)

Here’s a look at the 10 biggest US jackpots won and the states where the winning tickets were sold:

1. $2.040 billion, Powerball, November 7, 2022 (one ticket: California)
2. $1.765 billion, Powerball, October 11, 2023 (one ticket: California)
3. $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, August 8, 2023 (one ticket: Florida)
4. $1.586 billion, Powerball, January 13, 2016 (three tickets: California, Florida and Tennessee)

5. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, October 23, 2018 (one ticket: South Carolina)
6. $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, January 13, 2023 (one ticket: Maine)
7. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022 (one ticket: Illinois)
8. $1.22 billion, December 27, 2024 (one ticket in California)
9. $1.128 billion, March 26, 2024 (one ticket in New Jersey)
10. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023 (one ticket: California)

WATCH: New York State Lottery drawings live daily at 14.30 and 22.30 and Wednesdays and Saturdays at 20.15
Powerball drawings are also streamed here on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 22:59
Mega Millions drawings are streamed Tuesday and Friday at 23.00

Sources: AP archives, www.megamillions.com and www.powerball.com

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