NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Cottonwood, CA, January 2, 2025: A small family-run store in Cottonwood, California, has made headlines by selling the winning Mega Millions ticket worth $1.22 billion, marking one of the largest jackpots in the lottery’s history.
The winning ticket was sold at Sunshine Food and Gas, a Circle K store owned and operated by Jaspal Singh and his son, Ishar Gill. The Singh family, who have been part of the Cottonwood community for two decades, expressed their disbelief and joy at the news. “It was surreal,” Ishar Gill, the store’s Director of Operations told a local media outlet. “I had to verify it multiple times before I could believe it.”
The California Lottery confirmed that the Singh family will receive a $1 million retailer bonus for selling the winning ticket. Despite this windfall, they remain committed to their store and their community. “To our amazing community—thank you for supporting us and making us part of your daily lives,” the family said in a statement.
The journey to this moment has not been without challenges. In August 2021, a devastating fire destroyed the gas station, forcing the family to rebuild over two years. Their resilience paid off when they reopened the store in March 2023, just months before this life-changing event.
