One Mega Millions lottery player will be partying more than others this New Year when they check their numbers.
After three months of no outright winners, the huge American lottery reached a rollover jackpot of $1.22 billion. The golden ticket was sold in California in a branch of Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) on Rhonda Road in Cottonwood. The draw was announced on Friday, December 27.
The winning ticket matched the balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55, and the gold Mega Ball 6. The identity of the winner or winners has not been revealed yet, nor if they have stepped forward to collect their prize.
Mega Millions winner needs to decide to take a bit each year, or half the amount in one go
The total amount of the Mega Millions jackpot would only be handed out to the winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take an immediate single cash payout, however, which for Friday night’s draw is an estimated $549.7 million.
In spite of the next to imply odds of winning, more and more lottery players bought tickets as the rollover prize grew into silly numbers. The last time someone took the top prize was back in September.
The biggest ever win on the Mega Millions was a jackpot worth $1.6 billion in August 2023.
