A Mega Millions player in California has won an astounding $1.2 billion jackpot, becoming the fifth-largest prize in the lottery’s history. The winning ticket, sold at Sunshine Food and Gas station in Cottonwood, Shasta County, matched the numbers 3, 7, 37, 49, 55, and the gold Mega Ball of 6. The winner has the option to receive the payout as a lump sum of $549.7 million or in annual installments.
Joshua Johnston, lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, called it a “special holiday present” for the winner and emphasized the positive impact lottery sales have on local causes. This jackpot follows a three-month streak without a grand prize winner and is the fourth Mega Millions jackpot awarded in 2024.
Although remarkable, this prize isn’t the largest in Mega Millions history. The record remains a $1.602 billion win in August 2023, followed by $1.537 billion in 2018 and $1.348 billion in January 2023. The largest-ever U.S. lottery jackpot was a $2 billion Powerball win in 2022, also claimed in California.
The new winner joins an exclusive group of lucky players, prompting renewed dreams of hitting it big for millions across the country.
