Fifth largest Mega Millions lottery jackpot won as mystery punter scoops up $1.22bn pot

A single ticket holder in California has scooped a staggering $1.22billion Mega Millions jackpot after Friday’s drawing, marking one of the largest lottery wins in history.

The winning ticket was purchased at Sunshine Food and Gas in Cottonwood, California, according to state lottery officials.

The massive prize had been building since September 13, when a Texas winner claimed an $810million jackpot.

The lucky ticket matched all six numbers in yesterday’s draw: 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and a Mega Ball of 6.

This historic win represents the fifth-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history.

The timing proved fortunate, as the previous drawing on Christmas Eve had produced no winners, allowing the jackpot to grow further.

Cottonwood, where the winning ticket was sold, is a small community of around 6,000 residents in Northern California.

The town is situated south of Redding, making it a relatively remote location for such a significant lottery win.

The fortunate winner has yet to come forward, though this is not unusual for major prize claims.

“It is common for large jackpot winners to take their time to file a claim,” Mega Millions officials said in a statement.

For California residents, the win could be particularly lucrative, as the state is one of eight that do not impose taxes on lottery winnings.

Winners would still face federal tax obligations, which typically amount to 37 per cent of the prize.

The jackpot marks the third Mega Millions win of 2024, a notably low figure for the lottery game which is played across 45 states, Washington DC and the US Virgin Islands.

This follows a record year in 2023, which saw 10 jackpot winners – the most since the game underwent major changes in 2013.