Single Ticket Wins $1.269B Mega Millions Jackpot, Ninth-Richest in U.S. History

One ticket correctly matched the Mega Millions numbers from last night, winning the ninth-largest jackpot ever in U.S. history. 

The $1.269 billion annuity jackpot represents the fifth-largest Mega Millions payout ever awarded. The Mega Millions Consortium, which runs the interstate lottery game for its 45 member states along with Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, announces that the winning ticket was purchased in California. 

The ticket that corresponded with the Friday night numbers 3, 7, 37, 49, and 55, along with the gold Mega Ball 6, was purchased in Cottonwood at the Circle K Sunshine Food and Gas store on Rhonda Rd. Cottonwood, a once stagecoach settlement about 125 air miles north of Sacramento, can be found in Shasta County in Northern California. 

“Congratulations to our $1.269 billion jackpot winner from California. What an amazing present this holiday season,” said Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium.

“At an incredibly special time of year, this is both an incredibly special moment for our winner and all the great organizations and causes that benefit from lottery ticket sales around the country,” Johnston continued. “Thank you to everyone who plays. Because of you, we have winners all around the country taking home cash prizes both big and small, and we have educational causes, parks, and many other great organizations benefiting as well.”

The victor has one year to step forward. California does not permit lottery winners to keep their identities secret. 

Victory Analysis 

The fortunate winner will have the choice to take the complete amount of the $1.269 billion jackpot distributed over 30 years or a single cash option of $571.9 million. Both figures were raised from the pre-draw estimate of $1.15 billion and $516.1 million due to sales outperforming expectations. 

The annuity of $1.269 billion and cash amounting to $571.9 million are prior to federal taxes. California does not treat lottery winnings as taxable earnings. 

Given that the majority of Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners opt for the cash option, let's analyze it under the assumption that this trend persists. Should the winner choose the lump sum payment, the $571.9 million will decrease to about $360.3 million following a 37% effective federal tax. 

In June, Casino.org announced that lottery participants in California, New York, and New Jersey are the luckiest when it comes to Mega Millions and Powerball. Since 2017, those three states are at the forefront for the total number of jackpots claimed. 

This shouldn't come as a surprise, as California is the most populous state in the nation and boasts one of the strongest lottery programs.

"California, we’ve done it again! One lucky ticket sold at Circle K Stores on Rhonda Rd. in Cottonwood was the sole ticket across the nation to match all six numbers in tonight’s (Dec. 27) Mega Millions drawing!” the California Lottery posted on its social media channels.

411 about Cottonwood 

Cottonwood in Shasta County is likely most recognized as the location where actor-comedian Chris Farley made his last movie. 

The 1998 film "Almost Heroes," an adventure comedy western that received poor reviews, was mainly shot in Cottonwood. Farley acted with Matthew Perry, who, like the ex-SNL star, passed away due to a drug overdose. 

Shasta County is likely most recognized as the birthplace of the soft drink producer. Shasta County takes its name from the neighboring Mount Shasta.