Introduction to the Largest Mega Millions Jackpot Winner

The winner of the $1.2-billion lottery jackpot — a player who beat the odds by matching all six numbers drawn in the December Mega Millions — was named on Monday.

Identification of the Winner

The winner, identified as Rosemary Casarotti by California lottery officials, who are required under state law to publicly identify the winners, purchased the winning ticket at Sunshine Food and Gas at 3505 Rhonda Road in Cottonwood on Dec. 27, officials said.
The lottery offered no biographical details about Casarotti.

Details of the Winning Ticket

The combination of numbers: 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the Mega number 6, with the 3x “MegaPlier.”
Casarotti opted not to be present during Monday’s announcement. She chose to take the lump sum of her winnings, which will amount to more than $570 million.

Historical Context of the Jackpot

The jackpot was California’s largest Mega Millions prize in history, according to the lottery. The odds of drawing all five of the winning numbers and the Mega number were at 1 out of 302.5 million.
Prior to the December win, the jackpot had been won only three times in 2024, the fewest wins in any single year since the game began in 2002.

Previous Jackpot Wins

At the time, the jackpot had been growing since Sept. 10, when a player won an $810-million prize from a ticket sold at a gas station in Texas.
The prior $6-billion-plus jackpots have all been won in different states — South Carolina in 2018, Michigan in 2021, Illinois in 2022, Maine and Florida in 2023 and New Jersey in March, according to the lottery. The game’s highest jackpot of any state at $1.6 billion was won in Florida in 2023.

Contribution to the Report

Times staff writer Clara Harter contributed to this report.

Conclusion

The identification of Rosemary Casarotti as the winner of the largest Mega Millions jackpot in California history marks a significant event in the lottery’s history. With the odds against her, Casarotti’s win is a remarkable story of chance and fortune.

FAQs

• Q: Who is the winner of the $1.2-billion lottery jackpot?
  A: The winner is Rosemary Casarotti.
• Q: Where did Casarotti purchase the winning ticket?
  A: She purchased the winning ticket at Sunshine Food and Gas at 3505 Rhonda Road in Cottonwood.
• Q: What were the winning numbers?
  A: The combination of numbers was 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the Mega number 6, with the 3x “MegaPlier.”
• Q: How much will Casarotti receive in lump sum?
  A: She will receive more than $570 million.
• Q: What are the odds of winning the jackpot?
  A: The odds of drawing all five of the winning numbers and the Mega number are 1 out of 302.5 million.