Order Now and Win Big
CA Lottery Reveals Name of $1.2 Billion Mega Millions Winner
Tuesday March 18th 2025California resident Rosemary Casarotti has been announced as the winner of the $1.2 billion Mega Millions jackpot from December 27, 2024.
The big win - the fifth-largest of all time for Mega Millions - came just after Christmas after building up over a period of almost four months. A single ticket matched all the numbers and it was quickly revealed that it had been sold in California, at the Sunshine Food and Gas Circle K in Cottonwood, just off Interstate 5 in Shasta County.
The winner did not rush to come forward and claim the prize - with a one-year deadline for jackpots in the Golden State - but they did recently make contact with the CA Lottery and a press conference was scheduled for Monday to reveal their name.
Casarotti turned down the chance to attend the media event and told lottery officials she wanted to remain as private as possible, so few other details were released about her story. It did emerge that she had chosen the cash option rather than the annuity - which was valued at $571 million minus federal taxes.
“We offer Rosemary our heartfelt congratulations for her historic win and our gratitude for her part in supporting the California Lottery’s mission to provide extra money for public education in our state,” said California Lottery Director Harjinder Shergill Chima. “Because of this historic jackpot win, the California Lottery was able to raise an estimated $89.5 million for public schools. On this lucky day, we are so excited to celebrate that!”
California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker added: “I had the pleasure of speaking with Rosemary by phone following her win, and I can tell you with certainty how grateful she is and how happy she is to have won this money and to have supported public schools."
While Casarotti declined to participate in the press conference, employees from the Circle K store which sold the lucky ticket were happy to join the celebrations. The store received the maximum retail bonus of $1 million, and owner Ishar Gill admitted it was a special moment. Gill said: "It’s an amazing feeling to know that our store played a part in making lottery history. Our customers are the heart of our business, and we’re grateful to be a part of such an amazing community."
Biggest Mega Millions Winners
Another couple of draws without a winner would have pushed the $1.2 billion Mega Millions jackpot into 2025 and closer to the top of the list of biggest wins in history.
The record Mega Millions jackpot stands at $1.602 billion and belongs to a player from Florida, who claimed via the Saltines Holdings LLC. They won on August 8, 2023, surpassing the high mark of $1.537 billion that had been set by an anonymous ticket holder from South Carolina in October 2018.
The jackpot has only been won once so far this year, and it remains to be seen whether it will be won again before a series of changes are made to Mega Millions on April 5.
You can keep up to date with the latest winning numbers every Tuesday and Friday night. The jackpot is currently worth $301 million, so don’t miss out on the chance to win.
Latest News