Published on: January 27, 2026, 06:47h.
Updated on: January 27, 2026, 06:47h.
- Mega Millions victor seeks to reclaim lost ticket for full jackpot
- Court dismisses lawsuit due to strict lottery regulations
- Second claim deepens mystery regarding unawarded $197.5 million prize
A Los Angeles resident who won a Mega Millions jackpot of $197.5 million in December 2023 has been unsuccessful in his attempt to claim an additional $197.5 million from the California Lottery.
Faramarz Lahijani contended he bought two tickets featuring the same numbers from a gas station in Encino, California, but lost one of them, which he has yet to recover.
The plaintiff presented his remaining ticket to lottery officials in June 2024 to collect the first half of his prize. Just before the second ticket was set to expire in December 2024, he initiated legal action against the California Lottery in Los Angeles Superior Court for the other half.
In his legal filing, Lahijani asserted that he is the “sole winner” of both tickets and thus “entitled to the complete jackpot due to his timely submission of the first winning ticket.”
He stated that he filed the lawsuit preemptively to safeguard his rights concerning the entire Mega Millions jackpot from December 8, 2023.
No Ticket, No Prize
However, Judge Rolf M. Treu ruled against him on Monday, agreeing with the California Lottery’s assertion that Lahijani could not establish any enforceable agreement or legal requirement for the lottery to disburse unclaimed prize money in the absence of a valid ticket.
The lottery emphasized that the game rules and California legislation explicitly prohibit payouts without a legitimate physical winning ticket.
“These shortcomings are detrimental to the plaintiff’s claims,” the judge stated.
It raises questions as to why Lahijani, if his claim were accurate, would opt to purchase two tickets with the same numbers when one would suffice at a lower cost. Having two tickets does not enhance your chances of winning; it merely doubles the expense.
This could be a matter of superstition. However, a woman attempting to interject in the case offered an alternative explanation.
A Twist in the Narrative?
Cheryl Wilson asserted she was the purchaser of the second ticket, yet claimed it was stolen by a previous employer.
Her request to intervene was also rejected based on similar grounds: lacking a physical ticket means there is no legal standing. Judge Treu expressed his intent to avoid transforming the situation into a “dispute concerning alleged theft and fraud.”
Given the lottery’s verification that the two winning tickets were acquired in separate transactions, the most plausible explanation seems to be that two individuals independently bought tickets with identical numbers. This situation occurs more frequently than one might think, as friends or acquaintances may share numbers spontaneously.
Nevertheless, with Monday’s ruling, half of the jackpot will continue to remain unclaimed, leaving the actual circumstances shrouded in uncertainty.