California Woman Wins $1,2 Billion Mega Millions Jackpot
On March 17, Mega Millions lottery officials announced that a California woman had matched all six numbers in the drawing and won the $1,2 billion jackpot. For a short time, she became an official billionaire, reports USA Today.
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Rosemary Casarotti, the sole winner of the $1,2 billion jackpot, purchased the winning Mega Millions ticket on Dec. 27 at the Sunshine Food and Gas Circle K in Cottonwood, California, about 30 miles south of Redding.
Casarotti, who declined to attend a March 17 press conference, told lottery officials that she "wants to maintain maximum confidentiality."
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“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Rosemary on her historic win and thank her for her contributions to supporting the California Lottery’s mission to provide additional funding for public education in our state,” said Harjinder Shergill Cheema, California Lottery Director.
Casarotti chose to receive her winnings in a lump sum, bringing her final take home to approximately $571 million. If she had chosen to receive the payouts annually, the total would have been closer to $1,26 billion.
"I was fortunate to speak with Rosemary on the phone after her win, and I can tell you how grateful and happy she is to not only win this money, but to support public schools," said California Lottery spokeswoman Carolyn Becker.
Mega Millions officials did not disclose additional information about Casarotti, including her primary residence.
According to property records, as of 2023, a woman named Rosemary Casarotti lived in Shasta County, California.
The Circle K store where the winner bought the jackpot ticket received $1 million for selling it.
“It’s an incredible feeling to know that our store has become part of lottery history,” said store owner Ishar Gill. “Our customers are the heart of our business and we’re excited to be part of such a great community.”
Gill's family has already received a $1 million payout for selling the winning ticket at a Cottonwood store. He said lottery ticket sales at the store increased in December after the win was announced.
Mega Millions drawings take place every week on Tuesdays and Fridays at 23:00 p.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased 15 minutes before the drawing starts.
Five numbers are selected from white balls numbered 1 through 70, and the sixth is from a golden Mega Ball numbered 1 through 25. Players can use the Easy Pick or Quick Pick features, which allow the computer to randomly select six numbers.
The Megaplier feature multiplies non-jackpot winnings by 1, 2, 3, or 4 times for an extra $5. Before each Mega Millions drawing, there is a Megaplier drawing. Of the 15 balls, six are marked with a 3X multiplier, five are marked with a 2X multiplier, three are marked with a 4X multiplier, and one is marked with a 5X multiplier.
Tickets can be purchased at gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores and some airports.
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You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital delivery service of the USA TODAY Network lottery, in the following U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.
The Jackpocket app allows you to select a lottery game and numbers, place an order, view your ticket and collect your winnings using your phone or computer.
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