Mega Millions winner sues for other half of $394M jackpot, claims he bought both tickets

(KTLA) -- A man is suing the California Lottery, claiming he bought both winning tickets for a $394 million Mega Millions jackpot but lost one and is owed the remaining $197 million.

Faramarz Lahijani came forward in June to claim half of the cash prize from one of two winning lottery tickets sold at the same gas station in Encino in December 2023.

Lahijani says he actually purchased both tickets but lost one of them and was unable to track it down before it expired over the weekend. He submitted a claim for the second ticket on Dec. 4, three days before the expiration date.

The winning numbers from the Dec. 8, 2023, drawing were 21, 26, 53, 66, 70, and Mega Ball 13. Lahijani claims his children picked the numbers, which he's used for decades.

At the time, California Lottery officials couldn't say if the unprecedented lottery result was a coincidence but said it was only possible for the tickets with matching numbers to be purchased in separate transactions.

The breach of contract suit seeks the remaining $197 million that comprised the rest of the overall jackpot from the December 2023 drawing, alleging that there is sufficient evidence to prove Lahijani was the purchaser of both winning tickets.

Carolyn Becker, a spokesperson for the California Lottery, released the following statement to Nexstar's KTLA: "It would not be appropriate for the California Lottery to comment on an active lawsuit or any pending litigation to protect the integrity of the process involved."

If the rightful owner of the second winning ticket is someone other than Lahijani, the deadline to claim the prize in person passed on Saturday.

But that’s not the only way a lotto winner can claim their prize.

Jackpot winners, who remain unknown to lottery officials until they come forward, can also mail in the winning ticket and required paperwork, as long as it is postmarked before the claim deadline. Then, it’s a waiting game.

It could take days for the winning ticket to arrive at the California Lottery headquarters in Sacramento depending on mailing method—the California Lottery recommends certified mail.

And even then, the Lottery processes more than 10,000 claims per month. So it could be several weeks before the mail is even sorted and opened.

If the winner ended up letting the ticket expire and forfeiting the reward, or if Lahijani's suit is dismissed, the prize money will be allocated to public education in California, in accordance with state lottery regulations.

In the 2023-24 fiscal year, proceeds from California Lottery games contributed over $2 billion to public education in the state.