Winning ticket for $1.22 billion lottery jackpot sold in California, Mega Millions says

At slightest 1 Mega Millions subordinate has plentifulness of dough to ringing successful the New Year aft drafting the winning number. After 3 months without anyone winning the apical prize successful the lottery, a summons worthy an estimated $1.22 cardinal was sold successful California for the drafting Friday night, according to the Mega Millions website.

The California Lottery said the winning summons was sold astatine Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) connected Rhonda Road successful Cottonwood, astir 150 miles (240 kilometers) northbound of Sacramento. The winning summons matched the achromatic balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the golden Mega Ball 6. Ishar Gill, a lad of the store owner, said the winning summons was "a blessing" for the tiny agrarian municipality of astir 6,000 people. The individuality of the victor oregon winners was not instantly known.

"We don't person the slightest hint of who whitethorn person won it oregon who whitethorn person sold it," Gill told The Associated Press. "But congratulations to the winner."

The full magnitude of the Mega Millions jackpot would lone beryllium distributed to a victor who chooses an annuity paid implicit 29 years. Nearly each expansive prize winners opt to instrumentality a currency payout, which for Friday night's drafting is an estimated $549.7 million.

Despite the game's agelong likelihood of 1 successful 302.6 million, players continued to acquisition tickets arsenic the size of the expansive prize grew. Until Friday, the past clip a Mega Millions subordinate deed the apical prize was Sept. 10.

The largest-ever Mega Millions jackpot summons worthy $1.6 cardinal was sold successful Florida successful August 2023. Two prizes for its compatriot Powerball lottery person been larger.

Mega Millions and Powerball are sold successful 45 states, arsenic good arsenic Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball besides is sold successful Puerto Rico.

Mega Millions summons prices are acceptable to emergence from $2 to $5 successful April. The summation volition beryllium 1 of galore changes that officials accidental volition effect successful improved jackpot odds, much predominant elephantine prizes and adjacent larger payouts.