The 5th largest jackpot in the history of MegaMillions: $1.22 billion won in California
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4 Jan 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes The end of 2024 saw the jackpot of MegaMillions, one of the most famous lotteries in the United States, reach a historic amount. On Friday, December 27, a ticket validated in Cottonwood, California, allowed its owner to win the astronomical sum of $1.22 billion. A look back at this significant event in the world of gambling.
An exceptional end-of-year gift
It was at Sunshine Food and Gas, a modest store located at 3505 Rhonda Road in Cottonwood, that the winning ticket was purchased. This small community of 6,000 inhabitants, located in northern California, is now the center of attention. The winning ticket included the numbers 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and Mega Ball 6. With this drawing, the sole winner saw his dream come true, winning the fifth-largest jackpot in MegaMillions history.
Record accumulation since September
This jackpot had started growing on September 13, when a Texas player won $810 million. Since then, no ticket had managed to match all six winning numbers in previous drawings. This lack of winners allowed the amount of the jackpot to soar, reaching this historic level on December 27.
A year marked by colossal winnings
Friday’s drawing marks the fourth major MegaMillions jackpot in 2024, but it is undoubtedly the most impressive. Here are the main jackpots won this year:
- March 26, 2024: $1.128 billion, won in New Jersey.
- June 4, 2024: $552 million, won in Illinois.
- September 10, 2024: $810 million, awarded to a Texas player.
- December 27, 2024: $1.22 billion, won in California.
Despite these extraordinary wins, 2024 could go down in history as a relatively rare year for MegaMillions jackpots, with only four drawings won, the lowest total since 2002.
Secondary Wins
In addition to the main jackpot, the December 27 drawing generated more than 5.6 million winning tickets across the United States. Of these, five players matched all five numbers without the Mega Ball, each winning $1 million. Two of these tickets were validated in California, while the others came from Arizona, Missouri and Texas. Unfortunately, none of them had selected the Megaplier option, which would have tripled their winnings.
Who is the winner?
For now, the identity of the lucky winner remains unknown. In the United States, anonymity laws vary by state. In California, winners are required to reveal their identities publicly. However, it is common for winners of major jackpots to take their time before coming forward. “This is a major, life-changing decision, and winners often prefer to consult with financial and legal experts before claiming their prize,” MegaMillions officials explain.
If the winner is a California resident, they will be able to take advantage of one of the rare advantages of lottery games: the state does not levy any tax on the winnings. However, they will still have to pay a federal income tax of 37% on the cash value, estimated at $549.7 million. That leaves an impressive net sum, although less than the amount posted.