For most people, winning the lottery is a dream come true; for some lucky folks it has become a reality — in a way that could even be described as extraordinary. Adding inspiring yet fascinating stories along with the life-changing amounts of money these lottery winners have walked away with. Here’s a glimpse at some of the biggest lottery winners and their remarkable stories.
The largest lottery jackpot ever offered ended up being the $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot in Jan. 2016. This record-breaking jackpot was split among three winning tickets purchased in California, Florida and Tennessee. The winners — John and Lisa Robinson of Tennessee, Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt of Florida and Marvin and Mae Acosta of California — all chose to receive the lump sum payment of around $327.8 million after taxes. “This is how we win,” Robinson said. “Even a life-changing amount of money will not change our lives, yet we are still living.”
The other record-breaking jackpot was in October 2018, when a single ticket sold in South Carolina nabbed a $1.537 billion Mega Millions prize, the largest jackpot ever won by a single ticket holder in U.S. history. The winner chose to remain anonymous and took the one-time cash option of $877.8 million — the largest payout ever for a single winner. And the winner’s choice to remain anonymous just added to the intrigue — and mystery — of this incredible win.
Gloria Mackenzie of Zephyrhills, Florida, won a Powerball jackpot of $590.5 million in May 2013 by herself, making her the biggest jackpot winner for a single ticket at the time. Mackenzie, who bought her ticket at a Publix supermarket, chose to take the lump sum payment of $370.9 million before taxes. Even after Gloria’s win, her headlines weren’t about her newfound wealth, but rather about her generosity. You were ever the “big winner,” donating a good chunk of your prize money to a local school that needed a new roof — proving even the highest rewards can be shared with those who need it the most.
Colin and Chris Weir from Largs, Scotland, became the UK’s biggest lottery winners ever in July 2011 when they scooped £161 million on the EuroMillions. The couple was in their 60s at the time, and they became instant celebrities. They transformed their lives and the lives of others, donating millions to charities and establishing their own charitable trust, The Weir Charitable Trust. THIER GENEROSITY In July 2011, Colin and Chris Weir, from Largs, Scotland, were the richest EuroMillions winners in the UK, when they scooped a record £161 million. The couple, who were in their 60s at the time, became instant celebrities. They employed their riches to remake their lives and the lives of others; giving millions to charitable causes and even setting up their own charity trust, The Weir Charitable Trust. Their generosity
In December 2013, two winners split a $648 million Mega Millions jackpot. Steve Tran of Northern California and Ira Curry of Georgia each took home half the prize. Tran, a delivery driver, famously said to his boss, “I hit the jackpot. I’ll probably not come in today, tomorrow or ever.” The two winners took the cash option, worth $173.8 million each before taxes. The stories they have all illustrate just how quickly life can change with a ticket.
In October 2015, Zhe Wang of Mississauga, Ontario, won the largest Lotto 6/49 jackpot in Canadian history, a whopping $64 million. The China-born Wang was a frequent lottery player and bought her jackpot ticket at a neighborhood grocery. Win, was a great opportunity and reason to showcase the miracle and the multicultural face of Canada that is able to help the miracle opportunities of life as the lottery.
These biggest lottery winners stories illustrate just how powerful a winning ticket can be for individuals and their communities. From record-setting jackpots to displays of generosity, these winners remind us that although lottery victories are rare and exceptional, they also have the potential to be life-changing for more than just the lucky individual. Whether by going quietly or making a big splash, these winners will go down in history for their memorable fortune and the decisions they made afterward.
