California resident discovers $1.2 million Mega Millions jackpot win after a prank
In a bizarre twist of fate, Miguel Chávez, a California worker, learned he was a millionaire through a joke—all thanks to the lottery.
On November 5th, while Donald Trump celebrated his own victory, a man from California was quietly becoming a millionaire. The lucky winner hit all five numbers in that day's Mega Millions drawing, claiming a $1.2 million prize. But his discovery of this life-changing fortune was anything but typical.
Instead of a standard notification, Miguel Chávez found out about his newfound wealth through a bizarre turn of events—a joke that led him to realize he had won. The prank not only caught him by surprise but also made his stroke of luck even more unforgettable.
From prank to payday: The unbelievable discovery
It all started with a text from a coworker, asking if his absence from the office was due to winning the Mega Millions jackpot. The message, delivered in a lighthearted tone, even congratulated him on his supposed win.
At first, Chávez thought it was just a joke, but after double-checking his ticket, he realized the unexpected truth. What began as a simple prank quickly turned into a life-changing moment as he confirmed his massive win.
Mega Millions: One ticket, endless possibilities. Photo: LR Composition
The moment he realized he won the Mega Millions prize
On the night of November 5th, Chávez had no plans to check the lottery numbers—his focus was on the presidential election results. However, the next day, he received a text message from a coworker joking about his absence from work. Attached was a photo of the winning numbers, and after a few moments of disbelief, Chávez realized he had matched five of the six numbers.
Incredibly, his ticket was worth $1.2 million. Chávez bought it at Lake Liquor in Lakewood, where the store will receive a $6,000 reward for selling the winning ticket. The official numbers from the November 5th draw were 2-24-25-52-58, with the Mega number being 9.
One year to claim, a lifetime to remember
The lucky winner hasn’t shared how he plans to use his fortune, but he admitted that without that text message, he might never have checked his ticket. "I will never forget election night, nor that message," he said.
According to Mega Millions' official site, the timeframe to claim a prize varies by jurisdiction, typically ranging from 90 days to a year. In California, winners have up to one year to claim their jackpot.
