California gas station owners who sold the fifth-biggest Mega Millions ticket in history on Friday said their store had a $1.22 billion jackpot as it rebuilds after a devastating fire three years ago. I was overjoyed to find out that I had made a small contribution to winning the pot.
Jaspal Singh’s family, who have owned Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) in Cottonwood, Calif., for 20 years, received the store’s lucky news just an hour after the drawing.
According to KRCR, Mr. Singh’s son Ishar Gil, who is in charge of operating the store, was told by a lottery official at 9:30 a.m. local time that the store had sold a winning ticket, and the event was unbelievable. It is said that something happened.
Gill said she had to look at the message multiple times before sharing the life-changing news.
“I had to read it two or three times,” Gill told the magazine. “I told my wife about it. Then I ran to my dad’s room and told him about it. And he said, ‘Really? … Did we really win?’ I was there.”
“Everyone knows about it. Everyone is excited,” he added.
The winning numbers were 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold mega ball was 6.
Gill was confirmed by officials at 11:30 p.m. and was told to check out the store on Saturday and “cross the T’s and dot the I’s,” Gill told the Record Searchlight.
Singh and his family will receive incentives from the California Lottery for selling $1 billion in tickets.
Retailers will receive one-half of 1% of the jackpot amount (up to $1 million) for each winning ticket sold, according to the state lottery.
Store staff have no idea who the mysterious jackpot winner is or when the ticket was sold.
The lucky ticket holder, who has not been identified, can choose between a $1.22 billion jackpot, paid out in 29-year installments, or an estimated one-time payment of $549.7 million.
One shopper advised the owners to leave Cottonwood, a town of 6,000 people 245 miles north of Sacramento, and enjoy their new financial gift.
“It’s amazing,” said Christina, a Shasta County resident, according to KRCR. “I hope you live out the rest of your life in peace and happiness. Just ride off into the sunset and forget about this podunk town.”
In August 2021, a gas station was destroyed by flames that engulfed the entire building, forcing the family to embark on a “long and difficult” two-year “road to recovery.”
The family reopened the station in March 2023.
Circle K owners say they are not going anywhere and plan to give some of the money back to the Cottonwood community.
“Thank you to our amazing community for supporting us and making us a part of your daily life. Whether it’s gas money, a snack, or just a friendly hello, you can help They are very important to us,” the store wrote on Facebook Saturday morning.
“Thank you for making a dream come true and for the wonderful people who make Cottonwood so special.”
