A fortunate ticket holder in California has found a late holiday gift in the form of a staggering $1.22 billion Mega Millions jackpot. The winning ticket, sold at Sunshine Food and Gas in Cottonwood— a small town of about 6,000 residents— matched all the numbers drawn on Friday: 3, 7, 37, 49, 55, and the Mega Ball 6.
This massive jackpot had grown since mid-September when a winner in Texas claimed an $810 million prize, resetting the jackpot clock. The prize continued to accumulate as no one succeeded in matching all numbers drawn in the following weeks, including on Christmas Eve.
For the lucky California winner, they stand to potentially receive the entire jackpot amount tax-free, as California is one of the few states that do not tax lottery winnings. This win marks the fifth largest jackpot in Mega Millions history. Until recently, the fifth-biggest prize was a $1.128 billion jackpot claimed in New Jersey earlier this week.
It’s worth mentioning that large jackpot winners often take their time before coming forward to claim their prize. The previous New Jersey winner opted to remain anonymous and received the cash value of $537.5 million, which will be subject to federal and state taxes.
As of now, Mega Millions has seen three winners in 2024, the lowest total for a year since its transition into a multi-state game in 2002. In contrast, 2023 was a record year, with ten jackpots awarded— the highest since significant changes were made to the game a decade ago.
This recent victory serves as a reminder of the excitement and life-changing possibilities that come with playing the lottery, stirring hope for millions of players across the states. With the thrill of expectant events and narratives surrounding such vast winnings, there is always a chance for someone to receive a blessing that transforms their life.