California woman wins $1.2 billion Mega Millions jackpot

The winner of the $1.2 billion Mega Millions jackpot has been identified. Rosemary Casarotti from California won the enormous prize on December 27, 2024. However, she has already lost half of her winnings due to taxes. Casarotti opted for a lump sum payout of $571 million instead of receiving money in installments. As a result, she will take home about $571 million after taxes are deducted. A portion of her winnings, $89.5 million, will go to support public schools in California. Casarotti chose to keep her win private and did not attend the press conference announcing her victory. California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Beck shared that Casarotti is grateful and happy about her win and the contribution to education. The store where Casarotti bought her ticket, Sunshine Food and Gas Circle K, will also benefit. The store will receive a $1 million bonus for selling the winning ticket. Despite the huge amount of money, Casarotti prefers to stay out of the spotlight. The upcoming Mega Millions jackpot now stands at $324 million. Her jackpot ranks fifth in the list of the largest Mega Millions prizes won. Many Americans dream of winning the lottery, with significant amounts awarded to other winners in recent years. Some have received massive payouts, sometimes exceeding $2 billion, making lottery wins a popular topic in the news.