A single ticket purchased in Cottonwood, California matched all numbers in Friday night's Mega Millions drawing to win a $1.269 billion jackpot—the ninth-largest lottery prize in U.S. history and fifth-biggest Mega Millions win ever.

The winning ticket was sold at Circle K Sunshine Food and Gas convenience store on Rhonda Road in Cottonwood, about 125 miles north of Sacramento. The winning numbers were 3, 7, 37, 49, 55, and Mega Ball 6.

The winner can choose between:

• $1.269 billion paid over 30 years (annuity)
• $571.9 million cash option (one-time payment)

After federal taxes of 37%, the cash option would yield approximately $360.3 million. California does not tax lottery winnings as income.

Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium, congratulated the winner and noted how lottery ticket sales benefit educational causes, parks, and other organizations across the country.

Key Details:

• Winner has one year to claim the prize
• California law requires lottery winners to be publicly identified
• The jackpot increased from initial estimates due to strong ticket sales
• California leads in Mega Millions/Powerball jackpot wins since 2017, along with New York and New Jersey

The winning ticket was sold in Cottonwood, a historic former stagecoach town in Shasta County, known for being the filming location of Chris Farley's final movie "Almost Heroes" (1998).

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