It means the 29-year-old from Belfast becomes the first Northern Ireland fighter to win a world title in two weight divisions.
Frampton was declared the clear winner by two of the judges, with the third seeing it as a draw.It was a first defeat of the 27-year-old Mexican Santa Cruz's career.
"I wanted to be in a fight people would remember," said Frampton, having made good on his pre-fight promise to give fans a "shock".
His mentor and manager Barry McGuigan, who held the same title three decades ago, said: "Thisis one of the greatest nights of my life. It doesn't get much better than this."
It was Frampton's first pro bout at featherweight, having moved up a division after unifying the IBF and WBA super-bantamweight titles bybeating England's Scott Quiggin Manchester in February.
The Belfast boxer, in his fifth world title fight, made the stronger start, rocking the champion on to the ropes with a series of heavy punches in the second round.
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