In a singular twist of fortune, Faramarz Lahijani claims to have bought not one, but two jackpot-winning Mega Millions tickets, only to lose one before he could claim his total prize of $394 million, the New York Post reported.
In December 2023, the California Lottery made headlines when two winning tickets for the enormous $394 million Mega Millions jackpot were announced. Both tickets, each offering a prize of $197.5 million, were purchased at the same Chevron gas station on Ventura Boulevard in Encino, California. A few months later, in June 2024, Faramarz Lahijani came forward to claim one of the prizes, sharing a remarkable story.
Lahijani told lottery officials that he was the sole purchaser of both winning tickets, a fact that became a cornerstone of a legal battle. The twist in this lottery tale began when Lahijani revealed that he had lost the second ticket. This claim led him to file a lawsuit against the California Lottery to secure what he insists is his rightful second half of the jackpot. The legal action took place on December 6, 2024, just hours before the expiration deadline for the second prize.
The urgency with which Lahijani filed his lawsuit underscores the high stakes involved. Los Angeles Superior Court records indicate that his legal claim was lodged barely in time, barely one day before the claim expiration date of December 7, 2024.
As per the lawsuit, Lahijani emphasized his entitlement to the full jackpot, pointing out his timely claim of the first ticket as significant proof of his story. "By his having timely submitted the first matching ticket, the plaintiff is entitled to the entirety of the jackpot," asserts the document.
The involvement of Lahijani's family in his lottery activities was also highlighted. He shared that the winning numbers were chosen by his children and had been his preferred choice for decades. These numbers were 21, 26, 53, 66, 70, and the gold Mega Ball 13.
The saga added a remarkable footnote to the history of the California Lottery, as the Encino Chevron station received a record payout for its role in selling the winning tickets. The station was awarded over $1.9 million, becoming the highest single retailer bonus given in the state’s lottery history. Retailers like Chevron earn a bonus of half a percent of the value of tickets sold over $1 million, capped at $1 million. For each winning ticket sold, Chevron received a bonus of $987,500, summing up to nearly $2 million.
California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker commented on the unique situation, noting its rarity but not its impossibility. "While this is incredibly unusual and interesting, it’s not unheard of," she stated, suggesting multiple hypothetical situations that could lead a player to buy multiple winning tickets with identical numbers. Becker's statement also hints at the curiosity and speculation surrounding the mysterious manner in which the winning tickets were purchased and claimed.
Lahijani's case has yet to see a conclusion, and it remains enveloped in legal and public interest. Whether he will succeed in his claim for the second ticket or if more details will emerge about the lost ticket's fate continues to be a matter of intrigue. As the legal proceedings continue, the story not only highlights the dreams and dramas associated with winning big in the lottery but also the intricacies of proving such fortune when physical evidence is missing.
