California's winning lottery ticket for $1.22 billion sold
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A lucky Mega Millions player has struck it rich just in time for the New Year. After three months without a top prize winner, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California on Friday night, as per the Mega Millions website.
The California Lottery announced that the winning ticket was sold at Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) on Rhonda Road in Cottonwood, roughly 150 miles north of Sacramento. The winning numbers were white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55, and the gold Mega Ball 6. Ishar Gill, the son of the store owner, described the ticket as “a blessing” for the small rural town of about 6,000 people. The winner’s identity remains unknown.
| The winning numbers were 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and gold Mega Ball 6 and the cash value of the jackpot is estimated to be $549.7 million, according to the lottery. |
“We don’t know who might have won it or sold it,” Gill told The Associated Press. “But congratulations to the winner.”
The full amount of the jackpot would be distributed to a winner who opts for an annuity paid over 29 years. However, most grand prize winners choose a cash payout, which for Friday night’s drawing is estimated at $549.7 million.
Despite the game’s long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, people continued to buy tickets as the jackpot grew. Before Friday, the last time a Mega Millions player won the top prize was September 10.
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| Everyone dreams of winning a lottery at least once in their lifetime! Lotteries have become one of the most constant and played games around the world. |
The largest-ever Mega Millions jackpot, worth $1.6 billion, was sold in Florida in August 2023. Two Powerball lottery prizes have been larger.
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| Cindy Ooley of Fishers holds the ceremonial check for $1 million Powerball win with Hoosier Lottery Executive Director Sarah Taylor. |
Mega Millions and Powerball tickets are available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball is also sold in Puerto Rico.
Ticket prices for Mega Millions will increase from $2 to $5 in Apr
