Top 6 Biggest Lottery Winners in U.S. History

Note: *The following article is purely for fun. It is based on individual opinions and does not constitute advice. The drawing of lottery numbers is entirely random. Please always gamble responsibly. #Ad. Find out more on our How Our Site Works page.

---

Lottery is without doubt the most popular form of gambling in the USA, in 2022 it was found approximately 57% of the US population plays the lottery regularly - this translates to a whopping 146 million people. Plus, the world’s largest jackpots are available in the US - Powerball and Mega Millions. This of course means there have been some absolutely monstrous jackpots won in the US - this article is going to take a look at the top 6 biggest lottery wins in the US.

In recent years, since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, there has also been additional avenues for playing lottery. Lottery messenger apps such as Jackpocket, Jackpot.com and lotto.com allow customers to enter the official lottery draws from their mobile devices. Prior to this, all customers would have to visit a physical store to purchase their tickets.

Although, not available in all states, these lottery apps are available and increasing in popularity in states such as Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. This has meant that lottery is starting to get absorbed and included with traditional bookmakers - such as when Draft Kings purchased Jackpocket and major Soccer Tips website footballwhispers.com including pages such as their MI lottery promo code.

So, it’s fair to say playing the lottery is huge in the US and is only set to get bigger. Now, let’s take a look at those biggest wins:

$2.04 Billion Powerball – November 2022

The largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history was a $2.04 billion Powerball prize won on November 7, 2022. The ticket was purchased at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California. The winner, Edwin Castro, wasn’t revealed until February 2023, when California Lottery officials made the announcement.

Despite his newfound fame, Castro chose to keep a low profile, requesting privacy. Details about how he would handle his newfound wealth or plans for the future remained scarce, as he opted to remain out of the spotlight.

Edwin opted for the lump-sum option (as opposed to annuity), which meant he paid over $1 billion in taxes! He took home around $1 billion after taxes. For more information of Annuity v Lump Sum see our guide.

$1.765 Billion Powerball – October 2023

In October 2023, a $1.765 billion Powerball jackpot became the second-largest in U.S. history. The ticket was sold at Midway Market & Liquor in Frazier Park, California, a rural town north of Los Angeles. The winner’s identity was initially a mystery, but by March 2024, Theodorus Struyck stepped forward to represent a group of individuals who would split the massive prize.

The group opted for the lump sum payout of $774.1 million before taxes, opting not to take the full amount over annuity payments. A collective win on such a scale is rare and adds a unique twist to the usual stories of individual winners.

Apps like Jackpocket make it very easy to setup a syndicate/pool if you prefer to bet in a group. Doing so via an app also saves you the trust needed to hold or let your friend hold a ticket worth potentially billions of dollars.

$1.59 Billion Powerball – January 2016

January 2016 marked one of the most notable moments in lottery history, with a $1.59 billion Powerball jackpot split between three winning tickets. The lucky numbers were drawn on January 13, 2016, with the tickets purchased in Chino Hills, California; Munford, Tennessee; and Melbourne Beach, Florida.

Each winner took home approximately $528 million. Although the winnings were divided, the sheer size of the jackpot made headlines worldwide. A California Lottery spokesperson summed up the impact, humorously noting, “I think we can all live on $528 million, don’t you think?” The story remains a symbol of how massive these jackpots can become and how life-altering even a portion of them can be.

Luckily for both players their respective states (Florida & California) don’t impose state taxes on lottery winnings. Many states charge additional taxes on lottery winnings, such as New Jersey which is an additional 8% tax.

$1.58 Billion Mega Millions – August 2023

In August 2023, a single ticket sold in Florida won a $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot, making it the fourth-largest lottery prize in U.S. history. The winner, operating through the legal entity Saltines Holdings LLC, maintained anonymity while collecting a lump-sum payout of $794 million.

Florida law does not permit complete anonymity for lottery winners. Still, by claiming the prize through a legal entity, the individual behind Saltines Holdings shielded their identity as much as possible.

$1.54 Billion Mega Millions – October 2018

A ticket purchased in Simpsonville, South Carolina, took home the fifth-largest lottery jackpot ever: $1.54 billion. The Mega Millions prize was drawn on October 23, 2018, and the winner waited until March 2019 to claim it through a lawyer, opting for a lump sum of $877.8 million.

The delay in claiming the prize sparked widespread speculation about the winner’s identity, as South Carolina allows lottery winners to remain anonymous. While the person behind the winning ticket remains unknown, the choice to maintain privacy speaks to the intense attention and pressure that often accompanies such a win.

$1.35 Billion Mega Millions – January 2023

Another Mega Millions jackpot, valued at $1.35 billion, was hit on January 13, 2023. The lucky ticket was sold in Lebanon, Maine, marking one of the biggest lottery wins in the state’s history.

The winner, much like many others in this list, chose to remain anonymous, utilizing a limited liability company to claim their massive windfall.

Though Maine’s lottery laws allow anonymity, the magnitude of the win couldn’t help but generate speculation. Collecting a single cash payment of $723.5 million before taxes, the winner’s future undoubtedly became brighter in that snowy northeastern town.

Could You Be Next?

Let’s be honest, the odds of winning the jackpot are ridiculously small - 1 in 292,201,338 for Powerball and 1 in 302,575,350 for Mega Millions. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable pastime to have a little flutter and a dream.

For those of you that are value hunters, find your state from the ‘States’ section in our menu, there we compare all lotteries available in your state and rank the jackpots using our ‘Jackpot Value Ratio’ - often, the state lotteries are better value than the huge national lotteries.