Dec. 28 (UPI) — The Mega Millions lottery has a winner for the first time in three months: a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold at a California supermarket, lottery officials announced Saturday.

It is the fifth highest prize in the game’s 28-year history. The largest prize was $1.602 billion on August 8, 2023 in Neptune Beach, California, won by Saltines Holdings, LLC.

The only $2 ticket was sold Friday at a Circle K store in the town of Cottonwood in Shasta County in Northern California, the California Lottery announced. This retailer will receive a $1 million bonus.

The numbers drawn on Friday were 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and a yellow mega ball of 6.

The last Mega Million grand prize winner was on September 10 in Texas for $810 million.

The pot reached $1 billion seven times.

The lump sum payout for the $1.22 billion drawing is estimated to be $549.7 million. Or the winner can also choose to receive the $1.22 billion annuity paid out over 30 years.

Federal taxes of 25% and state taxes also apply. Eight states have no state income tax and therefore do not receive money like California does.

“What a great gift this holiday season! At an incredibly special time of year, this is an incredibly special moment for both our winner and all the great organizations and charities that benefit from lottery ticket sales across the country,” Joshua Johnston, Executive Director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said told CBS Sacramento.

The odds of winning are incredibly slim – less than the odds of being struck by lightning. Players have a 1 in 302,575,350 chance of winning.

According to Mega Millions, there were more than 5.6 million winners across all prize categories in Friday’s drawing. Five tickets matched five numbers: one each in California, Missouri, Texas and two in California. They are worth $787,543. The lowest payout is $2 for the Mega Ball.

In this game there are 70 white balls and 25 mega gold balls. The draws take place on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m

The other national lottery is Powerball, where a man in California won $2.04 billion.

As of October 7, 2015, 69 white balls and 26 Powerballs have been used in the game.

The draws take place on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets are sold in 45 states as well as Washington, DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

States without lotteries include Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah. Additionally, they can only be purchased for Powerball in the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.