Did anyone win the $1.22B Mega Millions jackpot?

WASHINGTON — One Mega Millions player in California has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold for the drawing Friday night.

The identity of the winner was not immediately known, but the ticket was purchased at Sunshine Food and Gas at 3505 Rhonda Road in Cottonwood, California, according to the CalLottery website.

Five others also became millionaires after Friday’s drawing. Two were from California, one from Arizona, one from Texas and the last from Missouri, according to the Mega Millions. 

The jackpot has been growing since Sept. 10, when it was last won at $810 million in Texas. The Christmas Eve drawing did produce several million-dollar winners. 

Only three Mega Millions jackpots have been won so far this year including a $1.13 billion winning ticket that was purchased in New Jersey in March. That prize was just claimed earlier this week. We likely may never know who won because winners in New Jersey have the option to remain anonymous. The top Mega Millions jackpot ticket — $1.6 billion — was sold in Florida in August of last year.

“We know that many people will likely receive tickets to Friday’s drawing as holiday gifts, and what a gift that would turn out to be if you ended up with a ticket worth a $1.15 billion jackpot,” Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium said in a statement Wednesday.

The winning numbers for Friday’s drawing were: 3-7-37-49-55 − 6 MegaBall, with 3x MegaPlier.

The total amount of the Mega Millions jackpot would only be distributed to a winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take a cash payout, which for Friday night’s drawing is an estimated $549.7 million.

Players who match only the first five numbers win at least $1 million. 

Mega Millions drawings take place Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.

1. $1.602 billion – August 8, 2023 – Florida
2. $1.537 billion – October 23, 2018 – South Carolina 
3. $1.348 billion – January 13, 2023 – Maine
4. $1.337 billion – July 29, 2022 – Illinois
5. $1.22 billion – Dec. 27, 2024 – California
6. $1.128 billion – March 26, 2024 – New Jersey
7. $1.050 billion – January 22, 2021 – Michigan
8. $810 million – September 10, 2024 – Texas 
9. $656 million – March 30, 2012 – Kansas/Illinois/Maryland
10. $648 million – December 17, 2013 – California/Georgia
11. $552 million – June 4, 2024 – Illinois

The Associated Press contributed to this report.