One lucky lottery player in California is starting the new year with a bang after winning the massive $1.22 billion Mega Millions jackpot drawn on Friday night.
The winning ticket matched all six numbers: the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, and 55, plus the gold Mega Ball 6.
This jackpot marks the fourth-largest in Mega Millions history and the ninth-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. It had been accumulating since the last jackpot win on September 10th, a span of three months.
READ: From Winter Haven To St. Augustine And Miami, 4 Florida Lottery Scratch-Off Players Win BIG
While the advertised jackpot amount is $1.22 billion, that figure is only awarded if the winner chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Most winners opt for the cash payout, which for Friday’s drawing is an estimated $549.7 million.
Five players matched 5 numbers in Arizona, California (2), Missouri, And Texas.
Despite the incredibly long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, players flocked to purchase tickets as the jackpot grew, driven by the dream of life-changing wealth.
READ: Florida Man Takes $815K Cash After Win On Lottery Scratch-Off
The largest-ever Mega Millions jackpot was a $1.6 billion prize won in Florida in August 2023.
Two Powerball jackpots have exceeded that amount, with the current record held by a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot won in California in November 2022.
Mega Millions and Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball is also available in Puerto Rico. Sources and related content
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.