Lotteries have been a source of excitement, hope, and sometimes life-changing fortunes for winners around the world. Over the years, some jackpots have reached astronomical amounts, creating instant multimillionaires. Here are some of the biggest lottery jackpots in history and the stories of those who won them.
$2.04 Billion – Powerball (November 2022)
The largest lottery jackpot in history was won on November 7, 2022, in the United States. This Powerball draw reached an unprecedented $2.04 billion after multiple rollovers. The winning ticket was sold in Altadena, California, at a local gas station. The lucky winner, Edwin Castro, chose to take the lump sum payout of approximately $997.6 million. Despite his newfound wealth, he remained private, with only a brief statement expressing his gratitude result macau.
$1.586 Billion – Powerball (January 2016)
Before the record-breaking 2022 jackpot, the largest lottery prize ever was the $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot won on January 13, 2016. This massive prize was split among three winners from Tennessee, Florida, and California. The winners, John and Lisa Robinson, Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt, and Marvin and Mae Acosta, each took home a share of the prize. Some chose to stay out of the public eye, while others made headlines with their charitable donations and new investments.
$1.537 Billion – Mega Millions (October 2018)
One of the biggest single-ticket lottery wins in history happened on October 23, 2018, when a South Carolina resident won the Mega Millions jackpot worth $1.537 billion. The winner remained anonymous, claiming the prize through a legal representative. The lump sum cash payout was about $877.8 million. The mysterious winner reportedly donated a significant portion of the winnings to various charities.
$1.35 Billion – Mega Millions (January 2023)
A Mega Millions ticket sold in Maine on January 13, 2023, won an incredible $1.35 billion jackpot. This marked the first time that Maine had ever produced a billion-dollar lottery winner. The winner remained anonymous, as permitted by state law, and opted for a lump sum payment of approximately $724.6 million.
$1.337 Billion – Mega Millions (July 2022)
Another Mega Millions jackpot worth $1.337 billion was won on July 29, 2022. The winning ticket was purchased in Illinois. The winners, a pair of friends who had agreed to split any winnings if they won, chose the lump sum option of $780.5 million. They remained private but expressed their joy at the life-changing opportunity.
$1.05 Billion – Mega Millions (January 2021)
A single ticket purchased in Michigan won a $1.05 billion Mega Millions jackpot on January 22, 2021. The winners, a four-member lottery club called “The Wolverine FLL Club,” chose to take the lump sum payment of $776.6 million. They planned to use their winnings to give back to their community and support various charitable causes.
$768.4 Million – Powerball (March 2019)
One of the largest single-ticket lottery wins occurred on March 27, 2019, when 24-year-old Manuel Franco from Wisconsin won a $768.4 million Powerball jackpot. Franco took the lump sum payout of $477 million after taxes. He expressed his excitement about the win and his intention to use the money wisely.
$758.7 Million – Powerball (August 2017)
Mavis Wanczyk from Massachusetts became one of the biggest single-ticket lottery winners when she won a $758.7 million Powerball jackpot on August 23, 2017. She opted for the lump sum payout of $480.5 million. Shortly after winning, she quit her job as a hospital worker to enjoy her newfound fortune.
Conclusion
These record-breaking jackpots have transformed the lives of their winners, allowing them to pursue dreams, support charities, and make significant financial changes. While winning the lottery is incredibly rare, the excitement it brings continues to captivate players worldwide.