Mega Millions Winner Sues, Claims Lost $394M Ticket

A Mega Millions player alleges he is the rightful owner of the two jackpot-winning tickets sold at the same California gas station last year, but lost the second ticket – as time to claim the award has expired.

Faramarz Lahijani publically stepped forward in June to claim his half of the $394 million prize for the drawing which was held on Dec. 8, 2023.

The life-changing tickets were sold at a Chevron gas station on Ventura Blvd in Encino, Calif. and worth $197.5 million each. The second ticketholder was given a full year from the drawing — until Dec. 7 — to claim the reward.

Last week, Lahijani filed a lawsuit against the California Lottery claiming he had purchased the mysterious missing ticket but had lost it.

In a breach of contract suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Dec. 6, hours before the expiration date, Lahijani argued he is the rightful winner of the remaining $197.5 million.

“By virtue of his having timely submitted the first matching ticket, plaintiff is entitled to the entirety of the jackpot,” according to the suit obtained by the Patch. Lahijani alleges that his children picked the winning numbers – 21, 26, 53, 66, 70, and gold Mega Ball 13 – were picked by his children and he has been using the digits for decades.