A lucky Mega Millions player in California will be ringing in the New Year as a billionaire after winning an estimated $1.22 billion jackpot in Friday night’s drawing. This marks the end of a three-month streak without a grand prize winner.
The California Lottery confirmed that the winning ticket was sold at Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) on Rhonda Road in Cottonwood, a small rural town about 150 miles north of Sacramento. The winning numbers were 3, 7, 37, 49, 55, and the gold Mega Ball 6.
“This is a blessing for our little town,” said Ishar Gill, son of the store owner, who expressed excitement over the win. The identity of the winner remains unknown.
The $1.22 billion prize is available as an annuity paid over 29 years, though most winners choose the lump-sum cash option, which for this drawing is approximately $549.7 million before taxes.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are a staggering 1 in 302.6 million, but that didn’t stop players from chasing the dream as the prize climbed higher. The last jackpot winner occurred on September 10.
This jackpot, while monumental, is not the largest in Mega Millions history. That record was set in August 2023, when a $1.6 billion ticket was sold in Florida. Two Powerball jackpots have surpassed that amount, making them the largest lottery prizes in U.S. history.
Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with Powerball also available in Puerto Rico.
Notably, changes are coming to Mega Millions in April 2025. Ticket prices will increase from $2 to $5, a move officials say will improve odds of winning and lead to even larger jackpots and payouts.
