Lucky Ticket in California Scores Big Prize but Jackpot Remains Unclaimed

A California player came close to winning the $264 million Mega Millions jackpot in the June 13 drawing. Instead, they took home a hefty consolation prize of $123,075.

California Player Wins Over $120K as Mega Millions Jackpot Rolls Over to $280M

The lucky ticket matched four of the five main numbers and the Mega Ball. A 3x Megaplier increased the non-jackpot prize. This was not enough to grab the top prize, but it still meant a big win, according to the California Lottery. California calculates prize payouts in a different way than other states. They base them on ticket sales and how many people win.

Despite no one hitting the jackpot in Friday’s draw, excitement continues as the prize pool has grown to about $280 million for the next drawing on Tuesday, June 17. Players choosing the cash option could take home $126.1 million.

Friday’s winning numbers were 8, 10, 22, 40, and 47, with a Mega Ball of 1. Over 270,000 tickets across the country won smaller prizes ranging from $10 to $50,000.

This recent drawing extends a jackpot rollover run that started after the last Mega Millions victory on April 18, when a fortunate player in Ohio won $112 million. This marked the third jackpot hit in 2025 following earlier wins in Illinois and another in January.

Mega Millions Increases Ticket Price, Adds Multiplier to Boost Non-Jackpot Prizes

Mega Millions made several adjustments earlier this year to boost prize amounts and better the odds of winning. Ticket costs went up from $2 to $5 beginning April 8, with each ticket now including a built-in multiplier, which can increase non-jackpot winnings. The new setup means matching all five white balls without the Mega Ball now pays between $2 million and $10 million based on the Megaplier.

The chances of grabbing the big prize are still slim, 1 in 290 million, but a player’s overall shot at winning something has gotten a bit better now at 1 in 23. Players must pick five numbers between 1 and 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 24. Tickets can be bought in 45 states, plus Washington DC, and the US Virgin Islands. The next draw happens on Tuesday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time, and people can watch it live online.