Tick tock! A $197 million Mega Millions jackpot vanishes tomorrow

One of two jackpot-winning California Lottery tickets for an advertised top prize of $395 million is set to expire this weekend.

On December 8, 2023, two lucky individuals purchased Mega Millions tickets at the same Chevron gas station in Encino, California. Both tickets matched all six numbers: 21, 26, 53, 66, 70, and 13 to claim the massive jackpot. While one winner has already come forward to collect their prize, the other fortunate ticket holder is still out there.

Time is running out

The deadline to claim the remaining $197.5 million prize is rapidly approaching. If the winning ticket isn't presented by tomorrow (Saturday, December 7, 2024), the prize money will go towards funding California's public education system.

Carolyn Becker, California Lottery spokesperson, said:

“We have no way of knowing who has the second jackpot-winning ticket from that incredible night/ While it's a shame for potential winners to see any winning ticket expire, it does give a helpful boost to California public schools. All unclaimed prize money winds up helping support public education, so we can still feel good about it at the end of the day.”

How to claim your prize

The lucky ticketholder has two options to claim the prize:

• In-person: Visit one of the nine California Lottery offices statewide and present the winning ticket along with the necessary claim form.
• By mail: Complete the claim form, which is available online, and mail it along with the winning ticket to California Lottery headquarters. The package must be postmarked on or before December 7, 2024.

Don't miss your chance

As the clock ticks down, the excitement surrounding the Mega Millions jackpot continues to grow. The Mega Millions jackpot has reached a staggering $579 million for the drawing on Friday, December 6.

This makes it the tenth-largest jackpot in the game's history. 2024 has been a historic year for Mega Millions, with three of the top ten largest jackpots in the game's history already won, and the current jackpot could make it four.

If you're lucky enough to match all six numbers, you could win a life-changing amount of money. But even if you don't hit the jackpot, there are still plenty of other ways to win. With prizes ranging from $2 to millions of dollars, there's something for everyone.

To play, simply purchase a ticket for $2. For an extra $1, you can add the Megaplier, which can multiply non-jackpot prizes up to 10 times. Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 p.m. ET.