Winning $1.22 billion lottery jackpot ticket sold in California, Mega Millions says

ATLANTA (AP) – At least one Mega Millions player has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize in the lottery, tickets worth an estimated $1.22 billion were sold in California in Friday night’s drawing, according to the Mega Millions website.

The winning ticket matched the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold Mega Ball 6. The identity of the winner or winners was unknown at the time.

The total amount of the Mega Millions jackpot will be distributed only to the winner who chooses an annuity paid over the age of 29. Almost all of the big prize winners chose to take the cash payout, which as of Friday night’s drawing is estimated at $549.7 million.

Despite the game’s long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, players continued to buy tickets as the jackpot size increased. Until Friday, the last time a Mega Millions player won the top prize was Sept. 10.

The largest Mega Millions jackpot ticket ever worth $1.6 billion was sold in Florida in August 2023. Two of the state’s Powerball lottery prizes were bigger.

Mega Millions and Powerball are sold in 45 states, as well as in Washington, DC, and the US Virgin Islands. Powerball is also sold in Puerto Rico.

Mega Millions ticket prices will increase from $2 to $5 in April. The increase will be one of many changes that officials say will lead to improved jackpot statistics, more frequent big prizes and even bigger payouts.