Rosemary Casarotti, a California resident, has claimed the massive $1.2 billion Mega Millions jackpot, becoming the sole winner of the December 27th drawing. The California Lottery announced her win this week, confirming she matched all six winning numbers.
Casarotti purchased the life-changing ticket at the Sunshine Food and Gas Circle K in Cottonwood, a small town in Northern California.
“We offer Rosemary our heartfelt congratulations for her historic win,” said California Lottery Director Harjinder Shergill Chima in a press release.
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Her jackpot win ranks as the fifth-largest Mega Millions prize ever awarded, trailing behind the record-breaking $1.6 billion single-ticket win from August 2023.
Casarotti chose to receive her winnings as a lump sum payment, which amounts to approximately $571 million. She has also expressed her desire to maintain her privacy.
“I had the pleasure of speaking with Rosemary by phone following her win, and I can tell you with certainty how grateful she is and how happy she is to have won this money,” said California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker.
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The Circle K location where Casarotti purchased the winning ticket will receive a $1 million bonus for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.
Interestingly, 2024 saw only four Mega Millions jackpots won, including Casarotti’s, marking the fewest jackpot wins in a single year in the lottery’s history.
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