It may not be the $1 billion jackpot, but one lucky Mega Millions player in California won more than $1.7 million before taxes in Tuesday’s Christmas Eve drawing.

A winning ticket with five numbers was sold in Kings County. The ticket was sold at a Save Mart at 105 West Hanford Armona Road in Lemoore, California. In 2023, Lemoore’s population was 26,809.

Tuesday’s winning numbers were 11-14-38-45-46 and a Mega Ball of 3.

The Californian winner narrowly missed out on the $1 billion jackpot because he didn’t pick the Mega Ball.

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Across the country, additional five-numbered tickets were sold in Missouri, Pennsylvania and Wyoming.

The next drawing on Friday now has an estimated jackpot of $1.15 billion before taxes, or $516.1 million for the cash option.

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