Woodlands Hills woman wins CA’s biggest lottery jackpot at $426M

A lady gained the state’s largest lottery jackpot with a ticket she bought at a Chevron gasoline station in Woodland Hills earlier this yr.

On Jan. 28, Kristine Wellenstein hit the $426 million Mega Hundreds of thousands jackpot and her ticket was the one one in the complete nation to match all six numbers, the California Lottery introduced Thursday.

“Once I realized I’d gained, I used to be overcome with so many feelings, however largely gratitude,” Wellenstein mentioned to lotto officers.

Though she considers herself a non-public particular person, Wellenstein wish to be steward of her newfound wealth and share it with others.

“I wish to give again and help native and global-based initiatives, and my group is in place to assist obtain these targets,” she mentioned. “The true affect of my life’s work begins now.”

Wellenstein’s win concluded a jackpot sequence that started in October of 2021 and rolled 27 instances. Gross sales for the complete sequence within the state totaled $110.3 million, that means California’s public faculties get an estimated $40 million from this jackpot run.

“Greater jackpots sometimes end in larger gross sales, after all, and which means extra money for public schooling, which we’re proud to help,” mentioned Alva V. Johnson, director of the California State Lottery. “The Lottery exists solely to learn faculties, so not solely will we congratulate Ms. Wellenstein on this terrific win, however we additionally congratulate college students from elementary on up by college, who enormously profit as effectively.”

Wellenstein has opted to take the lump sum on account of her win.

The Chevron station the place she purchased the fortunate Mega Hundreds of thousands ticket, situated at 6061 Topanga Canyon Blvd., will get the utmost $1 million bonus for promoting the profitable ticket.

Mega Hundreds of thousands attracts occur twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. Tickets are $2 every, and the chances of profitable the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350. The jackpot, nevertheless, isn’t the one technique to win. There are 9 methods to earn a prize, and the general odds of profitable one thing at any prize degree are 1 in 24.