CA Lottery Retail Partner Also Gets Record-Breaking Bonus Check
RELEASE DATE: 6/25/2024
SACRAMENTO – The winner of one of two winning tickets for a Mega Millions jackpot advertised at $395 million has come forward and claimed his prize. Today, the California Lottery reveals that F. Lahijani is the winner of half that prize money after producing one of two winning tickets, both of which were sold at the same Chevron gas station in Encino.
Notably, that minimart, at 18081 Ventura Blvd, also received a record-breaking bonus check for selling both of the nation’s only two jackpot-winning tickets for the December 8, 2023, Mega Millions draw.
California Lottery retail partners who sell any ticket that wins $1 million or more earn a bonus of half of one percent of the prize value up to a million dollars. In this case, the Chevron sold two tickets that matched all six numbers to hit the jackpot.
For each ticket sold, the retailer earned a bonus of $987,500 for a grand total of more than $1.9 million – the highest bonus ever received by a single retailer in California Lottery history.
“This was only made possible by the fact that the same store sold two jackpot-winning tickets over two separate transactions,” said Carolyn Becker, California Lottery spokesperson. “This has never happened before, and we want to congratulate the owners of this particular retail location!”
Both Lahijani and the owners of the Chevron respectfully declined public comment and told the California Lottery they are not interested in speaking to the media.
The person with the second winning ticket has not come forward; they have one year from the date of the draw to claim their prize of the remaining $197,500,000.
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The mission of the California Lottery is to raise additional funding for public education, helping to supplement school budgets for K-12 as well as colleges and universities. The California Lottery has raised more than $43.8 billion for public schools through the responsible sale of its games since 1985. Lottery funding for schools is largely discretionary, so administrators and educators can use Lottery money for instructional programs and services they may not otherwise afford. The California Lottery features eight draw games and dozens of new instant Scratchers games each year. More than 95% of California Lottery sales revenue goes back to the community in the form of prize payments, retailer commissions and bonuses, and contributions to education. More information about who benefits can be found
here. California Lottery is also committed to promoting responsible gaming. Anyone who shows signs of a gambling problem, or knows someone who does, can get free, confidential help by calling the CA Problem Gambling Hotline at 1-800-GAMBLER.
Media contact: California Lottery Office of Public Affairs and Communications,
[email protected]