$1.22 Billion Mega Millions Jackpot Won in California

A Mega Millions ticket sold in California has made someone an instant billionaire, with the jackpot for Friday night’s drawing reaching a staggering $1.22 billion. The ticket was sold at Circle K on Rhonda Road in Cottonwood, a rural town about 150 miles north of Sacramento.

The winning numbers—3, 7, 37, 49, 55, and the gold Mega Ball 6—ended a three-month streak without a jackpot winner. The identity of the winner or winners has not yet been revealed, but Ishar Gill, son of the store’s owner, described the win as a “blessing” for the small community of roughly 6,000 residents. “We don’t have the slightest clue who may have won it,” Gill told reporters. “But congratulations to the winner.”

Jackpot Options and Odds

The full $1.22 billion prize is available as an annuity paid over 29 years. However, most winners choose the cash payout, which for this drawing is an estimated $549.7 million.

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are notoriously slim—1 in 302.6 million—yet the growing prize pool continued to attract hopeful players since the last jackpot win on September 10.

A Milestone Moment for Cottonwood

Circle K, now a focal point of excitement in Cottonwood, will also see some benefits from the win. The store is expected to receive a bonus for selling the winning ticket, which could bring additional attention to the small community.

This jackpot marks another monumental moment in the history of the Mega Millions lottery, joining the ranks of other billion-dollar prizes. As the nation waits to learn who the lucky winner is, one thing is certain: their life—and perhaps the community of Cottonwood—will never be the same.