Lottery jackpot records

List of lottery jackpot records

This is a list of the largest jackpots, or prizes, awarded in various lotteries.

United States

All lottery winnings are subject to Federal taxation (automatically reported to the Internal Revenue Service if the win is at least $600); many smaller jurisdictions also levy taxes. The IRS requires a minimum withholding of 24% of the prize (minus the wager) of any gambling win in excess of $5,000. However, the net for a major prize often is misleading; winners often owe the IRS upon filing a return because the Federal withholding was below the winner's tax obligations. Nonresident U.S. lottery winners have 30% of winnings of at least $600 withheld.^[1]

While the largest lottery prizes in the early history of U.S. state lotteries were "annuity-only," these lotteries gradually introduced a "cash option" for these games. All prizes listed below are reported as the pre-withholdings amount, as this is taxable income the player must report on their returns to be subject to taxation. Jackpots and jackpot shares listed below are annuity amounts (and the cash value). The annuities for both the Mega Millions and the Powerball are paid out in 30 annual installments, increasing 5 percent yearly.^[2][3]

Over time, the size of Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots has generally increased because of higher ticket prices, the larger number of states participating (especially after cross-selling was allowed), and the reduced odds of winning.^[4]

List of U.S. lottery drawings of $400 million or more (annuity value):^[5][6]

Europe

Unlike in the United States, where lottery wins are taxed, European jackpots are generally tax-free (the lotteries themselves are taxed in other ways) and jackpots are paid in a lump sum. For example, in the United Kingdom's National Lottery, wagers are split between the game operator Camelot Group and the government, with Camelot distributing its share among prizes, operating costs, profit,^[59] Camelot's "good causes" programme, with the remainder going to the government as tax.^[60]

Examples of largest jackpots in specific European lotteries

• €240.0 million (US$258.3 million/£205.8 million) was the largest jackpot in the Euromillions history in the pan-European EuroMillions , won on 8 December 2023, the ticket was sold in Austria.^[72]
• £195.7 million was the largest prize won by a British winner in the pan-European EuroMillions in sterling currency, won on 19 July 2022.^[72]
• €120.0 million (US$130.5 million) was the largest jackpot in the Eurojackpot history, won on 4 June, 2024 by one ticket in Denmark.
• €371.1 million (US$394.6 million) was the largest single-ticket jackpot in Italy's SuperEnalotto lottery, won on 16 February 2023.
• €98.4 million (US$112.0 million)^[73] was the largest jackpot in Spain's La Primitiva (not to be confused with El Gordo de la Primitiva), won by a single ticket holder on Thursday 15 October 2015. The ticket was purchased in Barcelona.^[74]
• €48.6 million (US$53.2 million) was the largest jackpot in Germany's Lotto 6 aus 49, won on 3 January 2024 by one ticket.
• Kr. 238 million (US$38 million) is the largest single ticket jackpot of Svenska Spel Lotto Drömvinsten
• £66.1 million (US$96 million) was the largest jackpot in the United Kingdom's Lotto, won on 9 January 2016 by two tickets.
• CHF 70.1 million was the largest jackpot in Switzerland's Swiss Lotto, won by 3 winning tickets on 17 December 2016.^[75]
• CHF 64.6 million (US$72.8 million) was the largest winner in Switzerland's Swiss Lotto, won on 2 March 2024.^[75]
• £35.1 million (US$49.6 million) was the largest winner on the UK Lotto game in April 2016.
• €38.4 million (US$49.7 million) was the largest jackpot in the Netherlands draw of the Staatsloterij (State Lottery) in May 2013.
• €30,009,676 (US$31 million) was the largest jackpot in France's SuperLoto, won in May 2006 by two tickets.
• €30,000,000 (US$25.7 million) was the largest single-ticket jackpot in the French Lotto, won on 4 December 2021.
• €22.5 million (US$23.9 million) was the biggest lottery win in Hungary, which was on Eurojackpot (half of the €45 mil.) on 10 February 2017. This 7 billion forint grand prize beat a 5 billion record set up in 2003.^[76]
• Kr. 215 million (€22 million, US$30 million) was the largest single-ticket jackpot in Sweden's Lotto of Svenska Spel, won on 27 March 2010.^[77]
• €19.1 million (US$21.8 million) was the largest jackpot and largest single-ticket jackpot in Ireland's Lotto, won on 15 January 2022.
• €12.2 million (US$15.7 million) was the largest jackpot in Finland's Lotto of Veikkaus, won in October 2012 by one ticket.
• €13 million (US$17.9 million) was the largest jackpot in Belgium's Loterie Nationale/Nationale Loterij, won in December 2013 by one ticket.
• ₽358 million (€4.32 million/US$4.77 million) was the largest jackpot in Russia's Gosloto 6 to 45, won in February 2016 by one 1,800 rouble ticket. This is the largest jackpot in Russia.^[78]

Spain

The Spanish Christmas Lottery is considered to be the world's largest lottery.^[79] The 2011 top prize of €720 million^{[citation needed]} was paid out as €4 million^[80] (US$5.2 million) to each of the 180 tickets.^{[citation needed]} In 2012, the first prize was €720 million (then US$941.8 million; $1.215 billion in 2022 dollars),^{[citation needed]} out of a total prize pool of €2.52 billion (US$3.297 billion; $4.255 billion in 2022 dollars).^{[citation needed]} In 2016, the total prize pool was €2.310 billion ($2.414 billion).^[81] In 2020, the total prize pool was €2.38 billion ($2.897 billion).^{[citation needed]}

Other

References

1. "Publication 515 (2023), Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities | Internal Revenue Service". www.irs.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
2. "FAQs". Retrieved 2022-12-01.
3. "Difference Between Cash Value and Annuity". Retrieved 2022-12-01.
4. Bill Chappell (March 22, 2024). "Yes, huge lottery jackpots are less rare now. Here are 5 things to know about them". NPR.
5. "Powerball Winners". Archived from the original on 2016-05-23. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
6. "Mega Millions Winners".
7. Winsor, Morgan (November 8, 2022). "Single ticket wins record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot". ABC News. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
8. Mangan, Dan (November 8, 2022). "Powerball drawing held for record $2.04 billion jackpot after delay of hours". CNBC. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
9. "Ticket in California Wins $1.765 Billion Powerball Jackpot". Powerball. 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
10. "Smashing Jackpot Run Ends With Big Florida Win". Mega Millions. 2023-08-09. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
11. Stanglin, Doug; Estepa, Jessica (January 14, 2016). "Winners in 3 states to split record $1.6B Powerball jackpot". USA Today. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
12. "Mega Millions winner in South Carolina to share record jackpot with charities". CBS News. March 14, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
13. "Mega Millions jackpot grows to second highest with no winner". NBC News. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
14. Parker, Nick; Bella, Timothy (July 30, 2022). "Winning ticket for $1.28 billion Mega Millions jackpot is sold in Illinois". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
15. "Summer Splendor – Mega Millions® Jackpot Won in Illinois" (Press release). Mega Millions. July 30, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
16. "Powerball jackpot increased to $1.3 billion for tomorrow night". Powerball. 2024-04-05. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
17. "First Mega Millions Jackpot of 2024 Goes to New Jersey" (Press release). Mega Millions. March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
18. "Powerball Jackpot Reaches $1 Billion". Powerball. 2023-07-18. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
19. "Michigan Lottery Player Wins $1 Billion Mega Millions Jackpot" (Press release). Mega Millions. January 23, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
20. Murdoch, Robin (2024-01-02). "Winning Powerball jackpot ticket worth $842 million sold at Michigan food store". FOX 2 Detroit. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
21. "$768.4 Million Powerball Jackpot Won in Wisconsin" (Press release). Powerball. March 28, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
22. "Wisconsin man, 24, claims $768.4M Powerball jackpot prize". ABC7 New York. April 23, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
23. Kaufman, Ellie; Isidore, Chris (August 23, 2017). "We have a Powerball winner! Mavis Wanczyk told her boss she's not coming back". CNN Business. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
24. Martin, Ken (February 5, 2023). "Powerball winning numbers drawn for Saturday's $700M jackpot". Fox Business. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
25. "Hard-luck Maryland town gets a $731.1 million Powerball win". Associated Press. April 20, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
26. "$699.8 Million Powerball Jackpot Hit, Winning Ticket Sold in California" (Press release). Powerball. October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
27. "$687.8 Million Powerball Jackpot Won in Iowa and New York" (Press release). Powerball. October 28, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
28. Beasley, David (March 31, 2012). "Three winning tickets sold in record $656 million U.S. Lottery". Reuters. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
29. Beasley, David (December 19, 2013). "Mega Millions winners in Georgia, California to split $648 MLN". Reuters. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
30. "Tickets in California and Wisconsin Win $632.6 Million Powerball Jackpot" (Press release). Powerball. January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
31. O’Brien, Brendan (May 19, 2013). "Winning ticket for $590.5 million Powerball lottery sold in Florida". Reuters. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
32. "Powerball jackpot: $587.5 million, 2 winning tickets". The Oregonian. November 29, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
33. "$564 Million Powerball Winners Sold in Texas, North Carolina and Puerto Rico". NBC News. February 12, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
34. "Mega Millions winning lottery ticket for $560M jackpot sold in Illinois". ABC7 Chicago Digital Team. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
35. Nestel, M.L. (12 March 2018). "New Hampshire judge rules $560M Powerball winner can remain anonymous". ABC News. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
36. "NH Powerball Winner Claims $559.7 Million Prize" (Press release). Powerball. March 7, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
37. "Lucky Mega Millions jackpot winner in California!" (Press release). Mega Millions. July 25, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
38. Tan, Avianne (July 29, 2016). "$536 Million Jackpot Finally Claimed by Indiana Couple who Forgot They Bought Tickets". ABC News. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
39. "Winner of $533 million Mega Millions jackpot identified as New Jersey resident Richard Wahl, who checked numbers 15 times". NY Daily News. April 13, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
40. Osborne, Mark (June 8, 2019). "Single ticket in California claims $530 million Mega Millions jackpot". ABC News. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
41. Adams, Sean (July 2, 2021). "Pa. Group hits $516 million lottery jackpot, largest in the state's history". The Patriot-News. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
42. Hernandez De La Cruz, Melissa; Lick, Val (October 15, 2022). "2 winners snag $494 million Mega Millions jackpot". WCNC Charlotte. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
43. Helsel, Phil (July 31, 2016). "Somebody Just Won the $487 Million Powerball Jackpot". NBC News. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
44. Charles, Charline (April 15, 2023). "Winning ticket for $476 million Mega Millions jackpot sold in Queens". WPIX. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
45. "Ticket in Arizona Wins $473.1 Million Powerball Jackpot" (Press release). Powerball. April 28, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
46. Riley, John (March 18, 2018). "Winning ticket sold in $457M Powerball jackpot". USA Today. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
47. Woodall, Bernie (January 12, 2018). Hay, Andrew (ed.). "Florida 20-year-old claims $451 million Mega Millions jackpot". Reuters. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
48. "Lottery official: Three tickets match winning numbers for $448 million Powerball jackpot". The Birmingham News. August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
49. Lane, Ed (June 12, 2017). "A single winner reported in California for $447.8 million Powerball jackpot, bought at liquor and deli store". CNBC. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
50. "Long Island Co-Workers Claim $437 Million Jackpot" (Press release). Mega Millions. February 19, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
51. Ellison, Jillian (March 13, 2017). "$435.3 million Powerball winner an anonymous Purdue grad". Journal & Courier. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
52. "New York Ticket Wins Mega Millions® Jackpot!" (Press release). Mega Millions. September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
53. Strunsky, Steve (May 9, 2016). "Trenton 7-Eleven clerk sold winning $429M Powerball ticket". NJ.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
54. "$426 Million Lottery Ticket Sold in California!" (Press release). Mega Millions. January 29, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
55. Kurhi, Eric; St. Fleur, Nick (February 19, 2014). "Milpitas: $425 million lottery ticket sold at Dixon Landing gas station". The Mercury News. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
56. "Winning ticket for Powerball's $420.9 million jackpot sold in Lafayette, Tennessee". CBS News. November 27, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
57. Gonzalez, John (March 19, 2014). "Mega Millions numbers for March 18; two winners of $400 million jackpot". Michigan Live. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
58. "Glendale Couple Claims $414 Million Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot" (Press release). Mega Millions. June 18, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
59. "Lotto price hike will cut percentage per ticket going to charity". Archived from the original on 2013-01-25.
60. "Excise Notice 458: Lottery Duty". GOV.UK.
61. "Superenalotto: centrato il 6 dei record, vinti 371 milioni".
62. "EuroMillions Results for 19th July 2022". EuroMillions. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
63. "Dettagli estrazione SuperEnalotto del 13/8/2019".
64. SuperEnalotto Official Website (ed.). "Grandi vincite ogni anno". www.superenalotto.it.
65. "EuroMillions Results for 12th February 2010". EuroMillions. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
66. Foster, Alistair (12 April 2012). "Britain's biggest lottery winners: Couple scoop £56m jackpot". Evening Standard. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
67. "What happened to Dolores McNamara, Ireland's biggest lottery winner?". Multilotto.ie. Archived from the original on 2017-07-28.
68. "EuroMillions Results for 6th November 2009". EuroMillions. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
69. "EuroMillions Results for 9th February 2007". EuroMillions. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
70. "EuroMillions Results for 14th May 2010". EuroMillions. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
71. Sebastiaan, Door. "Waar is de jackpot gevallen van de 10 mei 2013 trekking?". staatsloterijstatistieken (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
72. Scott, Kirsty (July 15, 2011). "EuroMillions jackpot win makes couple richer than Ringo". The Guardian. London.
73. "Euro-U.S. Dollar History: 2015". Retrieved 2022-04-21.
74. "Biggest ever EuroMillions jackpot again up for grabs this Friday". Diario Sur in English. 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
75. "Recordjackpot valt in Zwitserse loterij: winnaar strijkt ruim 67 miljoen euro op". HLN.
76. "Magyar Eurojackpot telitalálat - új..." PlayHugeLottos.com.
77. "Svenska Spel har inte fått tag på storvinnaren". Archived from the original on November 16, 2011.
78. "Житель Новосибирска выиграл в "Гослото" 358 миллионов". www.trud.ru. February 29, 2016.
79. Bacon, John. "El Gordo is right: Spain has world's largest lottery worth $2.4 billion". USA TODAY.
80. "elGordo.com - elGordo 2011 Results". www.elgordo.com.
81. "Hundreds of People Just Won Spain's $2.4 Billion Lottery". Time.
82. [1]. , .
83. "Lottery marks 10th anniversary in Korea, gives $25 bln in prizes". www.donga.com. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
84. Ramos, Christia Marie (October 14, 2018). "At last, 2 bettors hit UltraLotto 6/58 jackpot of P1.18 billion". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
85. "Jackpot! Olongapo bettor wins P741.176-M lotto prize". GMA News. November 30, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
86. "Balikbayan claims P741 million Grand Lotto prize". ABS-CBN News. December 9, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
87. Perseus Echeminada (December 1, 2010). "Olongapo Lotto bettor wins P741 million with lucky pick". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 29, 2020.