$1.2-billion Mega Millions winner identified in California

The California Lottery has identified Rosemary Casarotti as the winner of the $1.2-billion Mega Millions jackpot from December. She purchased the ticket at Sunshine Food and Gas in Cottonwood. Casarotti matched all six numbers drawn and chose a lump sum payout of over $570 million. This jackpot is the largest Mega Millions prize in California history. Before this win, the Mega Millions jackpot had been won only three times in 2024, marking a low for the game. The previous record for the highest jackpot was $1.6 billion, won in Florida in 2023.