California Winner Claims $426 Million Mega Millions Jackpot
Friday June 10th 2022A California woman who is the Golden State's biggest jackpot winner of the year has stepped forward to claim an enormous Mega Millions prize won in January.
Kristine Wellenstein hit the $426 million jackpot in the Friday, January 28 draw with a ticket she purchased from a Chevron station at 6061 Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles County.
Her ticket was the only one to match all six numbers drawn - the white balls 3, 16, 25, 44 and 55, and the gold Mega Ball, 13 - making her the sole jackpot winner. The retailer will receive the highest $1 million bonus from the California Lottery.
The Mega Millions jackpot was originally valued at $421 million but the amount was revised upward after the draw. Wellenstein chose to take the cash option lum sum rather than the annuity.
“When I realized I’d won, I was overcome with so many emotions, but mostly gratitude,” Wellenstein told CA Lottery officials. She has a clear plan to put her winnings to good use and reach her philanthropic goals. "I want to give back and support local and global-based initiatives, and my team is in place to help achieve those objectives,” she continued. “The real impact of my life’s work begins now."
The jackpot run that concluded with Wellenstein’s win started after a $108 million top prize was hit in Arizona on October 22, 2021 and had 27 rollovers. Tickets worth $110.3 million were sold in California, which means that public schools statewide are projected to receive $40 million from this jackpot sequence.
“We love having big jackpots and big wins in California,” said California State Lottery Director Alva V. Johnson. “Higher jackpots typically result in higher sales, of course, and that means more money for public education, which we are proud to support. The Lottery exists solely to benefit schools, so not only do we congratulate Ms. Wellenstein on this terrific win, but we also congratulate students from elementary on up through university, who greatly benefit as well.”
Upcoming Jackpots
Your next chance to take home the Mega Millions jackpot is tonight, Friday, June 10. The top prize stands at $226 million with a cash option of $129.8 million.
Saturday brings the opportunity to hit the $229 million Powerball jackpot, with a cash value of $132.3 million.
Pick up your tickets for both games now.
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