The Powerball and Mega Millions lotteries have been a part of the American culture since their inception. The dream of winning a life-changing amount of money with a handful of tickets is a universal one. The odds of winning these lotteries are astronomically low, but that has not stopped people from playing them.
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The Powerball and Mega Millions lotteries have been a part of the American culture since their inception. The dream of winning a life-changing amount of money with a handful of tickets is a universal one. The odds of winning these lotteries are astronomically low, but that has not stopped people from playing them.
Over the years, the Powerball and Mega Millions lotteries have undergone several changes that have led to more significant jackpots. These changes include higher ticket prices and alterations to the games themselves. As a result, the United States has witnessed a surge in massive jackpot winnings.
Here's a closer look at the history of Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots in the United States.
The 10 Biggest Jackpots in the United States
1. $2.04 Billion
The largest lottery jackpot ever won in the United States was a Powerball drawing worth $2.04 billion. The winning ticket was sold at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California, on November 7, 2022. The winner, Edwin Castro, was the first lottery billionaire in the state of California. He claimed the prize through a trust and requested that his biographical information remain private.
2. $1.586 Billion
The second-largest jackpot in U.S. history was a Powerball drawing worth $1.586 billion. The winning numbers were drawn on January 13, 2016, and the jackpot was split among three tickets purchased in California, Florida, and Tennessee.
3. $1.54 Billion
The largest Mega Millions jackpot in history was worth $1.54 billion. The winning ticket was drawn on October 23, 2018, in South Carolina. The winner chose to remain anonymous and claimed the prize through a lawyer. They opted for a one-time lump sum payment of $877,784,124 instead of taking payments over 30 years.
4. $1.35 Billion
The fourth-largest jackpot in U.S. history was a Mega Millions drawing worth $1.35 billion. The winning ticket was sold at Hometown Gas & Grill in Lebanon, Maine, on January 13, 2023. The winner has yet to come forward.
5. $1.337 Billion
One lucky person in Illinois won the $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot on July 29, 2022. The winner has remained anonymous because Illinois law allows big winners to keep their names and addresses confidential in most cases.
6. $1.05 Billion
A group identified as the Wolverine FLL Club of Oakland County won a ticket for just over $1 billion in the Mega Millions drawing on January 22, 2021. The winning ticket was purchased at a Kroger grocery store in Novi, Michigan.
7. $875 Million
The current Powerball jackpot, worth $875 million, has not been won since April 19, 2023. It is the third-largest jackpot ever for the organization, behind November 2022 and January 2016. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.
8. $768.4 Million
Manuel Franco of Wisconsin won a $768.4 million prize in the Powerball drawing on March 27, 2019. The sum was enough for Mr. Franco to quit his job within two days of winning. Wisconsin has no law protecting the identities of people who win lotteries, which means Mr. Franco was required to come forward publicly.
9. $758.7 Million
A 53-year-old healthcare worker in Massachusetts, Mavis Wanczyk, became a millionaire when she won the Powerball on August 23, 2017. She opted for a lump-sum payment of $480.5 million. After taxes, she took home $336 million.
10. $754.6 Million
The Powerball jackpot for February 6, 2023, reached $754.6 million, or $407.2 million when taken as cash. A single ticket was sold in Washington, making it the fifth-largest Powerball jackpot and the ninth-largest overall in U.S. history.
Changes to the Powerball and Mega Millions Lotteries
The Powerball and Mega Millions lotteries have undergone several changes over the years that have led to larger jackpots. One of the most significant changes was the increase in ticket prices. The price of a Powerball ticket increased from $1 to $2 in 2012, while the price of a Mega Millions ticket increased from $1 to $2 in 2013.
Another change that led to larger jackpots was the introduction of a "rolling jackpot." In the past, if no one won the jackpot, the money would be rolled over to the next drawing. This meant that the jackpot could continue to grow until someone won it.
In 2015, Powerball changed its rules to increase the odds of winning smaller prizes while decreasing the odds of winning the jackpot. This led to more frequent and larger jackpots.
Recent Jackpot Winners
The most recent Powerball jackpot winner was Manuel Franco of Wisconsin, who won $768.4 million in March 2019. The most recent Mega Millions jackpot winner was a group known as the Wolverine FLL Club of Oakland County, who won just over $1 billion in January 2021.
The most recent jackpot winner for either lottery was a single ticket sold in Morro Bay, California. The ticket was for the October 4, 2021, Powerball drawing, and the winner has the option to take a lump sum payment of $496 million or payouts over the next 29 years.
Conclusion
The Powerball and Mega Millions lotteries have become a part of American culture, with people dreaming of winning life-changing amounts of money. Over the years, the lotteries have undergone several changes that have led to larger jackpots, with six jackpots surpassing $1 billion since 2016. While the odds of winning these lotteries are astronomically low, the possibility of winning keeps people playing.
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