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Mega Millions has announced that a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in Northern California, marking a significant moment in the history of the lottery.
The California Lottery confirmed that the winning ticket was purchased at a Circle K convenience store located in Cottonwood, Shasta County. This ticket stands out as the only one across the nation to correctly match the six numbers from the recent drawing. The winning combination included the numbers 3, 7, 37, 49, 55, along with a Mega Ball number of 6.
This jackpot represents the first Mega Millions win since a previous $810 million jackpot was claimed in Texas on September 10 and marks the third such victory in 2023. Additionally, it is notable for being the seventh time a Mega Millions jackpot has surpassed the $1 billion threshold.
For those considering the payout options, the lump sum payment for the $1.22 billion jackpot is estimated at $549.7 million. Alternatively, the winner may opt for the total jackpot amount to be distributed in annuity payments over the next 30 years.
Joshua Johnston, the lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium, expressed excitement over the win, stating, “What an amazing present this holiday season! At an incredibly special time of year, this is both an incredibly special moment for our winner, and for all the great organizations and causes that benefit from lottery ticket sales around the country.”
In addition to the jackpot winner, the California Lottery reported that two additional tickets sold in California—one in Roseville and another in San Bernardino—matched five out of the six numbers drawn. Each of these tickets fetched a prize of $787,543. Nationwide, three other tickets matching five out of six numbers were sold, with one each going to residents of Texas, Arizona, and Missouri.
With the latest drawing, Mega Millions reported over 5.6 million winners across all prize tiers, contributing to a total of more than 31.4 million winning tickets sold during a streak of 31 consecutive drawings since the last jackpot was claimed.
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