The Largest Lottery Jackpots Ever

Written by Jackpot Staff

April 25, 2024

The thrill of winning a massive lottery jackpot is a dream many people share. The thought of becoming an overnight millionaire is enough to make anyone excited. In this article, we will explore the largest lottery jackpots ever recorded, understanding how they work, the factors that influence their size, and the impact of winning such a massive prize.

What Is A Lottery Jackpot?

Before we delve into the world of record-breaking jackpots, let's first understand what a lottery jackpot is and how it works. At its core, a lottery jackpot is the top prize in a lottery game. It is the largest amount of money that can be won by matching all the numbers on a ticket. When no one wins the jackpot in a particular drawing, the prize money can roll over to the next drawing, creating even larger jackpots.

Lottery jackpots are not only about the money; they also symbolize hope and dreams for many players. The idea of hitting the jackpot and instantly becoming a multimillionaire is a powerful lure that keeps people buying tickets week after week, despite the long odds.

The Biggest Jackpots in U.S. History by State

The allure of winning a life-changing sum of money through a lottery draw has led to some truly astonishing jackpot amounts being won in the U.S. Over the years, both Powerball and Mega Millions have created headlines with their record-breaking prizes, captivating the imagination of millions of hopeful players.

Record-breaking Powerball Wins

Over the years, Powerball has awarded significant sums of money to players from all over the U.S. Here are the 7 of the largest jackpots won in each state over the last 20 or so years:

1. California: The largest Powerball jackpot of all time was won by Edwin Castro in November 2022 - a whopping $2.04 billion.
2. Florida & Tennessee: Won by The Nickel 95 Trust (Florida) and Lisa and John Robinson (Tennessee) in January 2016, the largest Florida and Tennessee jackpot is 1.586 billion dollars.
3. Oregon: Won by an undisclosed recipient in April 2024, Oregon’s largest winning jackpot now sits at $1.325 billion.
4. Michigan: Won by an undisclosed recipient in January 2024, Michigan’s largest winning jackpot now sits at $842 million.
5. Wisconsin: Manuel Franco won $768 million in March 2019 making the record for Wisconsin jackpots.
6. Massachusetts: Mavis Wanczyk won $758 million in August 2017 securing the Massachusetts jackpot record.
7. Washington: Becky Bell recently won $754 million in February 2023 breaking the previous Powerball jackpot records in Washington.

Unforgettable Mega Millions Jackpots

Similarly to the Powerball lottery, Mega Millions has also had massive jackpots claimed by players from all over the U.S. Here are the 5 of the largest Mega Millions jackpots won in each state over the last 20 or so years:

1. New Jersey: An unidentified winner recently won $1.128 billion in March 2024 which now holds the New Jersey jackpot record.
2. Florida: In August 2023, Saltines Holdings, LLC won a state record $1.602 billion.
3. South Carolina: $1.537 Billion was won by a player who wishes to remain anonymous on October 23, 2018.
4. Maine: LaKoma Island Investments, LLC won $1.348 billion in July 2022 securing the largest jackpot win for the state of Maine.
5. Illinois: An anonymous partnership won the largest jackpot in July 2022 totaling $1.348 billion.

International Lottery Jackpots

The United States is not alone in experiencing jaw-dropping lottery jackpots. Across the globe, several countries have had their share of record-breaking prizes.

Lotteries have a long history of creating overnight millionaires and capturing the imagination of people worldwide. The thrill of buying a ticket and waiting for the draw results is a universal experience that transcends borders and cultures.

EuroMillions' Top Payouts

EuroMillions, a transnational lottery played in multiple European countries, has crowned several fortunate winners with substantial jackpots.

In 2023, an anonymous online player from Austria became the biggest EuroMillions winner, claiming a staggering €240 million prize. This life-changing amount of money allowed the lucky individual to fulfill their wildest dreams.

Before that, a UK ticket holder won £196 million in 2022, cementing their place in history as one of EuroMillions' biggest winners.

The EuroMillions lottery not only offers massive jackpots but also contributes a significant portion of its proceeds to various charitable causes, making it a game that gives back to the community.