The allure of the lottery lies in the dream of a life-changing win. Over the years, there have been some truly staggering lottery prizes awarded. In this article, we’ll explore the five biggest lottery wins in history and share the inspiring stories of the lucky winners.

Lottery Wins

1. $1.586 Billion Powerball Jackpot

The largest lottery prize ever awarded was a Powerball jackpot of $1.586 billion in January 2016. This enormous prize was shared by three winning tickets. One of the winners, Maureen Smith, chose to take her share as a lump sum of $327.8 million before taxes. Despite the massive win, Smith and her husband said they planned to live as they had before, albeit with a bit more security. Lottery Wins

2. $1.537 Billion Mega Millions Jackpot

The second-largest lottery prize in history was a Mega Millions jackpot of $1.537 billion, won in October 2018. The winner chose to remain anonymous and took the lump sum pre-tax cash option of $877.8 million. The winner’s lawyer stated that they intended to donate a portion of their winnings to charity. Lottery Wins

3. $768.4 Million Powerball Jackpot

The third-largest lottery prize was a Powerball jackpot of $768.4 million, won in March 2019. The winner, 24-year-old Manuel Franco, chose the lump sum payment of $477 million before taxes. Franco said he planned to use his winnings to travel, help out his family, and do a lot of good for the world.

4. $758.7 Million Powerball Jackpot

The fourth-largest lottery prize was a Powerball jackpot of $758.7 million, won in August 2017. The winner, Mavis Wanczyk, chose the lump sum payment of $480.5 million before taxes. Wanczyk, who quit her job as soon as she realized she had won, said she wanted to sit back and relax with her winnings. Lottery Wins

5. $731.1 Million Powerball Jackpot

The fifth-largest lottery prize was a Powerball jackpot of $731.1 million, won in January 2021. The winners, a group of players who called themselves ‘The Power Pack’, chose the lump sum payment of $546.8 million before taxes. The group said they planned to use the money to help their families and their community.

Lottery Wins Conclusion

These inspiring stories of lottery winners show that while the odds of winning are low, the potential rewards are life-changing. However, it’s important to remember that the lottery is a game of chance, and it’s crucial to play responsibly. Always play with money you can afford to lose, and remember that the lottery is a form of entertainment, not an investment strategy.

References

Powerball
Mega Millions
CNN: $768.4 million Powerball winner ‘pretty much felt lucky’
BBC: Massachusetts lottery winner claims $758.7m prize
USA Today: Maryland lottery winners come forward anonymously to claim $731 million Powerball jackpot