Santa delivered a $1.22 billion Mega Millions jackpot to one lucky individual in California, with a single ticket matching all numbers in Friday’s drawing. The winning ticket was sold at Sunshine Food and Gas in Cottonwood, a small community in Northern California. This jackpot had been growing since September 13 after a previous winner in Texas had claimed an $810 million jackpot. The jackpot-winning ticket is the fifth-largest in the history of the game, and it was the first win since the Christmas Eve drawing where no one matched all six numbers.
If the winner of the $1.22 billion jackpot is a California resident, they will be able to take home the entire amount as the state does not tax lottery winnings. The win on Friday night follows a previous jackpot claim of $1.128 billion by a winner from New Jersey who opted for the cash value of the prize before state and federal taxes. The Mega Millions jackpot has been won three times in 2024, the fewest number of wins in a year since the game became Mega Millions in 2002. The game saw a total of 10 jackpots in 2023, the most since significant changes were made to the game in 2013.
The largest Mega Millions jackpot ever of $1.602 billion was claimed by a player from Florida in August 2023. This amount, while significant, falls short of the Powerball’s record-breaking $2.040 billion jackpot from November 2022. With federal taxes likely around 37% and New Jersey’s tax rate at 8%, the winner of the latest Mega Millions jackpot will still receive a substantial sum of money. Winners often take their time to claim their prize, as seen in the case of the New Jersey winner who remained anonymous and waited several months before claiming their prize.
The Mega Millions game, played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, has been popular among lottery players seeking to win big jackpots. This recent win of $1.22 billion adds to the excitement and allure of the game, with many hopeful players continuing to purchase tickets for a chance to hit it big. The winning ticket from Sunshine Food and Gas in California marks a significant moment in the game’s history and highlights the thrill of playing the lottery. As winners continue to come forward and claim their prizes, the Mega Millions jackpot remains a sought-after prize for players looking to turn their luck into a life-changing sum of money.
