Verified Public Records

Biggest Lottery Winners in History

Every record-breaking US jackpot over $500M and the biggest international lottery wins — with real stories, verified facts, and what happened next.

$25.6B
Total US Jackpots Listed
€2.7 Billion (total prize pool)
Largest Single Jackpot
11
Billion-Dollar US Wins
25
US Jackpots Tracked
# Jackpot Game Winner Location Date
1
€4 Million per full ticket (€400K per décimo)
El Gordo (Spanish Christmas Lottery)
Shared across thousands of ticket hol...International
Spain December 22, 2023
2
$997.6 Million
Powerball
Edwin Castro
California November 7, 2022
3
$774.1 Million
Powerball
Undisclosed
California October 11, 2023
4
$783.3 Million
Mega Millions
UndisclosedAnonymous
Florida August 8, 2023
5
$983.5 Million (combined)
Powerball
John & Lisa Robinson (TN), Maureen Sm...
California, Florida, Tennessee January 13, 2016
6
$877.8 Million
Mega Millions
UndisclosedAnonymous
South Carolina October 23, 2018
7
$723.5 Million
Mega Millions
UndisclosedAnonymous
Maine January 13, 2023
8
$780.5 Million
Mega Millions
UndisclosedAnonymous
Illinois July 29, 2022
9
$621 Million
Powerball
Cheng "Charlie" Saephan
Oregon April 6, 2024
10
$549.7 Million
Mega Millions
UndisclosedUnclaimed
California March 11, 2025
11
$558.1 Million
Powerball
Yanira Alvarez
California July 19, 2023
12
$776.6 Million
Mega Millions
Wolverine FLL Club (4-member group)Anonymous
Michigan January 22, 2021
13
$425.2 Million
Powerball
UndisclosedAnonymous
Michigan January 1, 2024
14
$417.2 Million
Powerball
UndisclosedAnonymous
Michigan September 30, 2023
15
$428.4 Million
Mega Millions
UndisclosedAnonymousUnclaimed
Texas September 10, 2024
16
$404.2 Million
Mega Millions
UndisclosedUnclaimed
North Carolina January 7, 2025
17
$477 Million
Powerball
Manuel Franco
Wisconsin March 27, 2019
18
$480.5 Million
Powerball
Mavis Wanczyk
Massachusetts August 23, 2017
19
$546.8 Million
Powerball
UndisclosedAnonymous
Maryland January 20, 2021
20
$496 Million
Powerball
Scott Godfrey
California October 4, 2021
21
$471 Million
Mega Millions
Three winning tickets
Kansas, Illinois, Maryland March 30, 2012
22
$450 Million
Powerball
Two winning tickets
California, Wisconsin January 5, 2022
23
$352 Million
Powerball
Undisclosed (won anonymity lawsuit)Anonymous
New Hampshire January 6, 2018
24
$320.5 Million
Mega Millions
11-person office pool
California July 24, 2018
25
$340 Million
Mega Millions
Undisclosed
California June 7, 2019
26
$516 Million
$349 Million
Mega Millions
UndisclosedAnonymous
Pennsylvania May 21, 2021
27
€371 Million (~$405 Million USD)
~€297 Million after 20% Italian tax
SuperEnalotto
UndisclosedAnonymousInternational
Italy October 17, 2023
28
€220 Million (~$260 Million USD)
Paid as tax-free lump sum
EuroMillions
UndisclosedAnonymousInternational
France October 15, 2021
29
€230 Million (~$252 Million USD)
Paid as tax-free lump sum in UK
EuroMillions
Joe and Jess ThwaiteInternational
United Kingdom July 19, 2022
30
A$200 Million (~$142 Million USD)
Paid as tax-free lump sum
Australia Powerball
UndisclosedAnonymousInternational
Australia September 19, 2019
31
R$588 Million (~$118 Million USD)
Lump sum (13.8% federal tax in Brazil)
Mega-Sena (Mega da Virada)
UndisclosedAnonymousInternational
Brazil December 31, 2023

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest lottery jackpot ever won?
The largest lottery jackpot in US history is the $2.04 billion Powerball prize won on November 7, 2022 by Edwin Castro in California. Globally, Spain's El Gordo distributes more total prize money (€2.7 billion) each year, but it's shared across thousands of ticket holders rather than a single winner.
How many billion-dollar lottery jackpots have there been?
As of March 2026, there have been 11 US lottery jackpots that reached or exceeded $1 billion. The first was the $1.586 billion Powerball in January 2016, split three ways.
Can you stay anonymous if you win the lottery?
It depends on the state. Some states like South Carolina, Michigan, and Maryland allow winners to remain anonymous. Others like California require public disclosure. Many winners in disclosure states claim through trusts or LLCs to maintain some privacy.
Should you take the lump sum or annuity?
Most winners choose the lump sum, which is typically 40-60% of the advertised jackpot. The annuity pays the full amount over 29 years. Financial advisors are split — the lump sum gives you control of the money, but the annuity provides guaranteed income and protection from overspending.
Can Americans play international lotteries?
No. US federal law prohibits Americans from purchasing foreign lottery tickets. Services that claim to sell EuroMillions or other international lottery tickets to US residents are operating outside US law. Americans can only legally play US-based lotteries (Powerball, Mega Millions, state lotteries).