A lucky California Lottery player is celebrating a major win this Valentine’s Day after purchasing a Mega Millions ticket worth nearly $1.5 million at a Stater Bros. grocery store in La Quinta.
The California Lottery announced that the ticket, sold at the store on Highway 111, matched five of the six winning numbers—11, 19, 31, 49, and 56—missing only the Mega Ball (16). The store will receive a $7,500 bonus for selling the ticket.
With no grand prize winner in Friday night’s drawing, the Mega Millions jackpot has now climbed to an estimated $145 million for the next drawing on Tuesday.
Mega Millions is one of the most popular lottery games in the U.S., known for its massive jackpots and life-changing prizes. Players choose five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball from 1 to 25, hoping to hit the lucky combination.
Winning the Mega Millions jackpot isn’t easy, with the odds sitting at about 1 in 302.6 million. But plenty of people still take their chances, especially as the jackpot grows with every drawing that doesn’t have a winner.
If they don’t win the jackpot, matching five numbers—like the recent winner in Southern California—can still lead to a huge payday. Even smaller prizes can be significant, and with rollovers, the jackpot often climbs into the hundreds of millions before someone finally hits it big.
Beyond just the thrill of winning, every ticket sold in California helps support public education. A portion of the revenue goes toward funding schools and educational programs, making the lottery more than just a game—it’s also a way to give back.
For those feeling lucky, tickets cost $2, and winners have up to a year to claim prizes.
