COTTONWOOD, Calif. — Amidst excitement surrounding the announcement of the $1.2 billion Mega Millions winner on March 17, California Lottery officials highlighted how the jackpot contributes to education funding across the state. The winner, Rosemary Casarotti, purchased the ticket from the Sunshine Food and Gas Circle K located on Rhonda Road back in December 2024.
California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker expressed her joy, saying, “I did have the opportunity to speak a few times with Rosemary, and I can attest firsthand with confidence she feels a lot of gratitude and a lot of joy about this win, as you can image.” Becker emphasized the significance of small towns celebrating big wins, saying, “When we see a small town celebrating a big win, we love it even more than we love the big wins in our big towns.”
Thanks to this enormous jackpot, the California Lottery has raised roughly $89.5 million for public education, demonstrating the impact of lottery revenues on educational programs. Becker noted, “Every single person who works for the California Lottery does it with a cause in mind, which is to help public schools. We’ve existed now for almost 40 years, and it was the voters here in California who created the lottery and said, yes, our public schools need a little help. Granted, it’s pennies on the dollar compared to what they need, but our dollars help support important programs and services students might not otherwise have access to.”
The Circle K store where Casarotti purchased the winning ticket also celebrated the win, receiving the maximum retail bonus of $1 million for being the ticket seller. Circle K Director of Operations Ishar Gill shared his excitement, saying, “It’s an amazing feeling to know our store played a part in making lottery history. Of course, we want to extend our congratulations to the winner of this life-changing moment. We wish them all the best and couldn’t be happier.”
The winning numbers for the Mega Millions on December 27, 2024, were 3-7-37-49-55, and the Mega Ball was 6. Over the last few months, the jackpot had been growing and finally reached $1.22 billion. This marked the twelfth occasion when either the Mega Millions or Powerball jackpots soared past $1 billion. The announcement of Casarotti as the winner on St. Patrick's Day was particularly symbolic and exciting, coinciding with the celebration of luck and dreams.
Casarotti claimed her prize as a lump sum payment valued at over $571 million before federal taxes, making her one of the largest lottery winners ever. The California Lottery confirmed the lucrative payout process is available for winners, allowing them to choose between lump sums or annual payments. “Rosemary declined to be present for the news conference but has received our heartfelt congratulations for her historic win,” added Harjinder Shergill Chima, who also attended the news conference alongside Becker and Gill.
Two other California Lottery players were very close to winning, missing the jackpot by just one number. Their tickets were sold at locations on Roseville and San Bernardino, each winning more than $787,500. Notably, the retail store bonus received by Circle K is part of the lottery's method of encouraging retailers to support ticket sales, with the maximum allowed bonus being $1 million.
With such high-profile wins like this one, the California Lottery continues to generate significant funds to support public education, contributing over $46 billion since its inception nearly 40 years ago. The organizations continue to serve as reminders of the potential benefits and impact of lottery participation, for both individuals and the community. “We are excited to celebrate this win and hope it inspires others to dream big,” concluded Becker.
For those curious about lottery rules, California maintains public records of jackpot winners and where tickets were sold. Winners have one year to claim their prize, ensuring transparency and community awareness. This Mega Millions win serves as both inspiration and excitement for many, and especially for those who participated during this thrilling drawing period.
