‘A shame’: Unclaimed Mega Millions ticket worth almost $200 million to expire in California

Sat Dec 07 08:20:00 UTC 2024: ## $197 Million Mega Millions Jackpot Winner Has Until Saturday to Claim Prize

**Los Angeles, CA** – Time is running out for someone in Los Angeles who holds a winning Mega Millions lottery ticket worth a staggering $197 million. The ticket, purchased at a Chevron gas station in Encino on December 8, 2023, matched all six numbers in the drawing but remains unclaimed. The California Lottery announced that the deadline to claim the prize is this Saturday, December 7th, 2024.

The winning numbers were 21, 26, 53, 66, 70, and the Megaball was 13. Remarkably, another ticket purchased at the same Chevron station on the same night *was* claimed, splitting the $395 million jackpot.

“We have no way of knowing who has the second jackpot-winning ticket,” said California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker. “It’s truly unfathomable that such a large prize remains unclaimed.”

To claim the prize before the deadline, the winner must visit one of nine California Lottery offices across the state. Alternatively, they can mail a completed claim form to the California Lottery headquarters, but it must be postmarked by Saturday. The Lottery urges winners using mail to utilize certified mail and retain a copy of their submission.

If the prize remains unclaimed, the $197 million will be added to California’s public education fund. While expressing disappointment that the winner might miss out, Becker noted, “All unclaimed prize money winds up helping support public education, so we can still feel good about it at the end of the day.”