SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. – The biggest Mega Millions win ever in California, with a jackpot of $1.2 billion, went to a lucky winner in Cottonwood. It was estimated that the jackpot would also raise an additional $89.5 million for public schools.

According to the California Lottery, it is the largest Mega Millions win ever in California and the only ticket in the country to hit a jackpot of $1.269 billion. The winning ticket was sold at the Circle K on Rhonda Road, just off Interstate 5 in Shasta County. According to the California Lottery, the store will now receive a $1,000,000 bonus – the highest bonus a California Lottery retail partner can earn.

The jackpot had been in motion since September, and over a nearly four-month period of Mega Millions sales alone, the California Lottery estimated it had raised an additional $89.5 million for public schools.

In a press release, California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker said:

The only reason the California Lottery exists is to raise a little extra money for public education. We’re always happy when our players win huge jackpots, but we’re even prouder when we know that public schools are already winning no matter what. Big jackpots like this contribute to strong sales, which in turn helps us raise even more money for education.

Two other California Lottery players missed out on the jackpot by just one number because they matched the first five numbers. One was sold at the Chevron at Blue Oaks Blvd and Foothill Blvd. in Roseville, and the other came from Cardenas Market at 2405 E Highland Ave. in San Bernardino. Each of these winning tickets is worth more than $787,500.

The California Lottery said they wouldn’t know the winners until they received their prizes. The jackpot winner has the choice of receiving $1.269 billion over 30 annual payments or taking the lump sum, estimated at nearly $571.9 million before federal taxes. The state of California does not tax lottery winnings.

According to the California Lottery, the jackpot winner has one year to claim, while anyone else with a second-winning ticket has six months to claim. The Mega Millions jackpot will now reset to its original value of $20 million for the next drawing.

The California Lottery said it previously sold three winning tickets worth more than $1 billion; each of which was for Powerball. The world record Powerball win of $2.04 billion took place in November 2022 at a gas station and service center in Altadena. Then, in July 2023, a small convenience store in downtown Los Angeles sold a winning ticket worth $1.08 billion, and just a few months later, in October, a market in Frazier Park sold a winning ticket worth $1,765 billion US dollars.

The California Lottery said that for every $2 Mega Millions and Powerball ticket sold in California, about 80 cents help fund public education.

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