In a festive stroke of luck, two Mega Millions tickets sold in California have joined forces to claim the tenth jackpot of 2023, creating an exhilarating double win just in time for the holiday season. The Chevron station at 18081 Ventura Boulevard in Encino served as the lucky haven for both winning tickets, as they successfully matched all six numbers drawn in Friday night's spectacular drawing: 21, 26, 53, 66, and 70 for the white balls, along with the golden Mega Ball 13.
The estimated jackpot had swelled to an impressive $395 million, with a cash option of $189.0 million, marking the first jackpot win since a South Dakota-based trust secured the prize in Texas on October 6.
In addition to the jackpot triumph, the December 8 drawing brought joy to numerous players across various prize tiers, with a total of 715,952 winning tickets. Twelve tickets managed to match four white balls and the Mega Ball, securing the game's third-tier prize. Among them, two tickets, enhanced by the optional Megaplier set at 3X for the night, are worth $30,000 each, while the remaining 10 third-tier winners will be celebrating their $10,000 winnings.
As the jackpot resets to its starting value of $20 million ($9.6 million cash) for the next drawing on Tuesday, December 12, Mega Millions enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the unfolding of more thrilling moments and the prospect of their own winning experiences.
The 18-drawing jackpot run witnessed an impressive tally of almost 10.5 million winning tickets across all prize levels. Among them, 15 second-tier prizes of $1 million or more were claimed in 10 different jurisdictions: Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas.
The Mega Millions jackpot journey in 2023 has been extraordinary, marked by significant wins and record-breaking moments. Notably, a game record was set on August 8, when a staggering $1.602 billion prize was claimed in Florida. The year kicked off with a bang on January 13, as a $1.348 billion jackpot was won in Maine.
In a testament to the unpredictable nature of jackpots, smaller yet noteworthy prizes of $20 million were awarded on two occasions (January 17 and April 18, both in New York), and three jackpots fell in the $30 million range ($33 million on January 24 and $31 million a week later, both in Massachusetts, and $39 million in Florida on August 15). Wrapping up the year, a $483 million jackpot was secured in New York on April 14, and a Texas prize of $361 million was awarded on October 6.
Tickets for the $2 Mega Millions game are available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Players can add the Megaplier for an additional $1 to multiply their non-jackpot prizes. If you're feeling lucky and ready to embark on a thrilling journey of chance, look no further than Lottery Corner your gateway to potential fortune!