We all know about the long odds of buying a winning lottery ticket. The largest lottery jackpots draw even more people to take a chance. Yet, that doesn’t stop any of us from dreaming of hitting it big one day.
US lottery jackpots are some of the biggest payouts in the world. No wonder we continue to dream big every week. But have you ever wondered what the largest lottery jackpots are in the United States?
Here’s a list of some of the most significant payouts of all time. You never know when you will be next.
Record Powerball Lottery
On August 23, 2017, a Massachusetts resident named Mavis Wanczyk became the most extensive individual ticket winner of the Powerball Lottery. Her $759 million win shattered the previous record won five years earlier.
Wancyk’s story is a cautionary tale, however. False social media posts began to use the winner’s name to create money stealing scams on the internet. So when you win, be careful who you share your big moment with and how the information gets out.
Almost two years later, Manuel Franco of Wisconsin topped the individual prize by winning $768 million. Franco’s Powerball Lottery win was the third-largest in US history.
Team Players
One of the enormous wins in the single-ticket category happened in January 2021. Four members of a Detroit lottery club hit the Mega Millions jackpot of $1.05 billion.
The four individuals cashed put for $557 million after taxes, and they have managed to keep their identities secret since. The foursome proved that gambling on the lottery could benefit from teamwork.
Individual Glory
$1.537 billion ranks first among the largest lottery jackpots ever won by a single person. In October 2018, someone in South Carolina claimed the Mega Millions prize.
The winner of this jackpot has also remained anonymous. The store owner who sold the ticket received a $30,000 tip which he shared with four employees. It’s nice to see when the good fortune gets spread around.
Largest Lottery Jackpots Ever
The wealth got spread from coast to coast in 2016 with the grandest Powerball result ever awarded. Three tickets from California, Tennessee, and Florida split the $1.59 billion grand prize.
After taxes, the three individuals each took home almost $328 million. Six years later, the record still stands, but for how long?
Staggering US Lottery Jackpots
No matter which lotto lottery you choose to play, their popularity still provides the possibility of new records. But even if your win isn’t one of the largest lottery jackpots ever presented, the prizes remain staggering.
Americans still love to dream big about catching lady luck in a bottle. And although the odds of winning are remote, it’s still fun to think of how you will enjoy that massive payday.
Keep the dream alive but remember to play within your means. The next name attached to the largest lottery jackpots could be you.
If you enjoyed this look into the history of US lottery jackpots, come back and read more fascinating tales.
