A winning Mega Millions ticket worth over $5.1 million was sold at a CVS store located at the intersection of Jasmine Avenue and Coast Highway in Corona del Mar, California. The California Lottery announced this significant win over the weekend, marking it as one of the largest second-place prizes in the state’s history. The ticket matched the first five numbers drawn on Friday night: 34, 38, 42, 44, and 69, missing only the Mega Ball, which was 8.
As no tickets nationwide matched all six numbers, the Mega Millions jackpot for the next draw on Tuesday will rise to an estimated $60 million. The prize of $5,104,961 now ranks second among California’s biggest five-number Mega Millions wins, surpassing the previous record of $4.6 million set by a ticket sold in Tarzana on August 8, 2025.
California’s Unique Prize System
The California Lottery operates under a different prize system compared to many other states. Instead of fixed payouts, the prize amounts fluctuate based on ticket sales and the total number of winners. This variable structure allows second-place prizes in California to reach unusually high amounts. Since 2015, several second-place Mega Millions wins in the state have exceeded $3 million. Some of the largest wins include:
– June 17, 2022 — $7,727,088
– December 5, 2025 — $5,104,961
– August 8, 2025 — $4,607,223
– July 29, 2022 — $4,234,962
– January 10, 2023 — $3,970,609
– February 13, 2015 — $3,471,009
– August 8, 2023 — $3,383,371
According to California Lottery spokesman Daniel Kelly, the odds of matching the first five Mega Millions numbers stand at 1 in 12,629,232.
While the excitement builds around the prize, the identity of the latest winner remains unknown. The winner will need to come forward to claim their prize and complete the necessary verification process. Claim forms are available on the California Lottery’s official website or at authorized retail partners.
Mega Millions tickets in California are priced at $5, with a portion of each sale funding public schools. The ongoing interest in lottery games continues to reflect the hopes and dreams of many, as players engage in the possibility of life-changing wins.
