A Mega Millions jackpot ticket sold Tuesday night at a Save Mart in Lemoore, Calif., a small city near Fresno, fell just short of the $1 billion jackpot.
The lucky player instead took home $1,774,447 after drawing the five correct numbers (38, 45, 14, 46, 11), but not the Mega Ball (3).
There were no jackpot winners in this drawing, but four people from California, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming hit the five numbers. According to MegaMillions.com, the jackpot has soared to an estimated $1.15 billion, with a lump sum cash option of $516.1 million, ranking it the fifth-largest in gaming history.
The 12 players in California will also draw four of the correct numbers and the Mega Ball, taking home $13,770.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.
In California, proceeds from lottery sales, including unclaimed prizes, are donated to public schools. Officials say the California Lottery has raised more than $46 billion for public education since the game first appeared in the Golden State in 1985.
