A man from California who sued the California Lottery for the winning prize money of $197.5 million has been contested by the California Lottery in the lawsuit. The California Lottery stated that it does not owe him the remaining $197.5M because he has lost the ticket. According to Faramarz Lahijani, he bought the two winning lottery tickets amounting to a win of $394 million. But since he could not show the other ticket, he was only able to claim half of the supposed total prize money.

The California Lottery has pushed back against a lawsuit demanding a $197.5 million payout from a man who claims he purchased two Mega Millions tickets from the same gas station - and he lost one of them. Lawyers for the state lottery argue that without a valid ticket, the claim is invalid under state regulations.

A resident of Encino, California, Faramarz Lahijani collected half of the Mega Millions jackpot, which was drawn on the 8th of December, 2023 - a sum of $197.5 million - in June of 2024. The jackpot, totaling $394 million, was split between two winning tickets, both purchased from the Chevron gas station in Encino, California.

While Lahijani initially remained silent about his win, declining media interviews, he made headlines again in December of 2024 when he filed a lawsuit against the California Lottery, asserting he was entitled to the remaining prize money of $197.5 million.

Lottery officials stand firm

Lahijani argues that he purchased both tickets and, as the 'sole winner,' should receive the full jackpot. However, he admitted that he has been unable to find the second ticket. His legal team stated that the lawsuit was filed before the ticket's expiration date to ensure he preserved his right to claim the full prize.

Despite this, the California Lottery remains steadfast in its stance. In a recent court filing ahead of a hearing on October 29, attorneys for the California Lottery emphasized that rules strictly prohibit payouts without a valid ticket.

"Payment of a Mega Millions prize without the submission of a valid winning ticket is expressly barred by the Mega Millions game rules and by applicable California statutes and regulations," the filing states.

The mystery behind two identical tickets

A significant question remains: Why did Lahijani purchase two identical tickets? According to him, he has been using the same numbers - 21, 26, 53, 66, 70, and the Mega Number 13 - for 30 years, as they were chosen by his children.

The California Lottery confirmed that both winning tickets were bought in two separate transactions, a highly unusual occurrence. Possible explanations include:

  • A superstitious ritual, where he routinely purchased duplicates.
  • A habitual purchase mistake, where he unknowingly bought the same numbers twice.
  • The possibility that the second ticket was meant for another individual, though Lahijani denies this.

The legal battle over contractual rights

Lahijani maintains that the California Lottery has enough evidence to confirm his rightful claim to the entire jackpot. His lawsuit argues that purchasing a lottery ticket establishes a contractual relationship between the buyer and the lottery. By refusing to pay out the remaining winnings, the lawsuit claims, the lottery is violating that agreement.

However, legal experts note that lottery rules clearly state that a winning ticket must be presented to claim the prize. Without the missing ticket, Lahijani's case may face significant hurdles in court. The upcoming October 29 hearing before Judge Lia Martin will be a pivotal moment in the case, determining whether Lahijani's lawsuit will move forward or be dismissed.

For now, the California Lottery remains firm: No ticket, no prize.