All news

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

A forgotten lottery ticket could turn someone into an instant millionaire—but only if claimed by Saturday.

The Chevron gas station at 18081 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, California, where the unclaimed $197m Mega Millions winning ticket about to expire was sold.
The Chevron gas station at 18081 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, California, where the unclaimed $197m Mega Millions winning ticket about to expire was sold. Photograph credit to Google Maps.
Samantha Herscher

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.

Comments

0
Loading comments

Related articles

The Texas Lotto logo over a sky blue background with confetti.
Texas-sized dreams: Lotto jackpot climbs to historic $83.25 million

What started as a $5 million prize in June has grown to become one of Texas' largest-ever lottery jackpots.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

A graphic showing the location of the $10 million Powerball Double Play winner on a map of Mississippi.
Double or nothing: $1 leads to Mississippi's biggest lottery payday

Mississippi's lottery history was rewritten Monday when a Petal player claimed a $10M Double Play jackpot.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

Kroger store at 4099 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
A huge Powerball win in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is still unclaimed

Only one month left for a Bloomfield Hills, Michigan player to come forward and claim their $250,000 prize - then they lose it forever.

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy

A screen capture from the Lotto Texas February 5, 2025 draw.
Betting on history: Lotto Texas nears record-breaking payout

The Lotto Texas jackpot hits $78.25 million, marking the 5th largest prize in game history.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

Recent articles

View All
The Caldwell County Jail in Princeton, Kentucky.
Store employee accused of stealing lottery tickets while working

A store audit raised the alarm, and video evidence helped police and state lottery officials connect the dots.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

The South Dakota State Capitol.
South Dakota lawmakers vote to increase lottery age

A proposal to raise the lottery age to 21 moves forward, and businesses may get more video lottery machines.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

A screen displaying investment graphs.
The $50 billion gamble. Inside America's tech-driven lottery boom

While luck can't be predicted, America's $50B lottery industry is betting that artificial intelligence can.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

The Tennessee Lottery and IGT logos over a shiny golden background.
Tennessee Lottery players to see high-tech upgrades in IGT contract deal

New terminals, enhanced reporting, and faster ticket-checking are on the way with the IGT contract extension.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold