With its larger than life jackpots, the US Powerball has raised the stakes for the entire lottery market. It holds the world record for the largest jackpot in history, which was worth a groundbreaking $2.04 billion. Since then, more and more people from all over the world have become Powerball players, which has made this lottery the most popular out there. In this article, we will tell you all about their record-breaking first prize, as well as the rest of the largest Powerball jackpots to date. Take a look!
1. $2.04 BILLION – November 7th, 2022
While it was initially announced at $1.9 billion, the jackpot of November 7, 2022 was actually raised to $2.04 billion! The draw was also slightly delayed due to one of the participating lottery needing more time to sort tickets out.
It took 41 draws for the Powerball jackpot to reach this amount and the winning numbers were: 10-33-41-47-56/10.
This Powerball winner who becomes the biggest Powerball winner of all time, but also the biggest lottery winner in the world! Indeed, he can boast of having won a record jackpot! Edwin Castro, the name of this lucky winner, came to claim his winnings on February 14, 2023, more than 3 months after winning this extraordinary jackpot!
2. $1.6 BILLION – January 13th, 2016
Beyond any shadow of a doubt, 2016 was the year of the Powerball. After numerous rollovers, the jackpot had finally exceeded the billion-dollar threshold, which was a first in the history of the lottery. As you can imagine, everybody had Powerball fever considering the outstanding amount of this fabulous jackpot. In fact, the word “Powerball” ended up being no.1 on America’s Most Googled Words list for 2016 because everybody wanted a chance to become a billionaire overnight.
Eventually, the $1,600,000,000 jackpot was won by three very lucky ticket holders who guessed all five of the main numbers and the Powerball. They each got an equal share of the fantastic prize, which made them multimillionaires.
3. $768.4 MILLION– March 27th, 2019
The US Powerball jackpot jumped to a whopping $768.4 million on March 27th, 2019. While it was initially announced at $750 million, the jackpot amount was increased due to massive ticket sales. It became the second largest jackpot in the entire history of the US Powerball and it was all scooped by a single winner, Manuel Franco from Wisconsin.
Powerball’s biggest winner is only 24 years old and he plans to stay a millionaire for the rest of his life. When he came forward to claim his jackpot he told the press I’m sure you’ll never see me as like one of the people who went bankrupt or broke or anything like that. I plan to live my life normal as much as possible”.
Manuel has been playing Powerball regularly since he was 18, but on March 27th, he felt extremely lucky, so he bought $10 worth of tickets. That’s all it took to win the $768 million Powerball jackpot. He chose the cash payout on his win, which was worth $477 million. This left him with $326 million after taxes.
He plans to use the money to do some good in the world, but first and foremost, to secure his future. But before all that, Manuel wants to take a break and let everything sink in. With $326 million in the bank, he has a lot of planning to do.
4. $758 MILLION– August 23rd, 2017
The Powerball lottery made lottery history on August 23rd, 2017 when Mavis Wanczyk from Massachusetts scooped a jackpot worth $758 MILLION. She is now the biggest lottery winner of all times, as this is the largest amount that has ever been won on a single ticket. Ms. Wanczyk has chosen the cash value option worth $480.5 MILLION and she has already quit her job because, with a jackpot like this, the possibilities are endless! The $758 MILLION prize is also the second largest jackpot in lottery history, which makes the draw on August 23rd, 2017 one for the books!
5. $754.6 MILLION – February 6th, 2023
One single ticket purchased in Auburn, Washington matched all six numbers to win the Powerball jackpot on February 6th, 2023.
Becky Bell, the owner of the winning ticket declared that she couldn’t believe her luck at first as she “never won more than $20” in her life. She is now set for life after becoming one of the biggest female Powerball winners of all time!
Here are the winning numbers for that amazing drawing: 05-11-22-23-69/ 07.
6. $731.1 MILLION – January 20th,2021
A group of Marylanders had a huge surprise right at the dawn of 2021. The numbers on their ticket matched the winning numbers of the Powerball draw of January 20th and this brought them a $731.1 million jackpot, the largest lottery win in Maryland Lottery history.
The winners introduced themselves as “The Power Pack” upon the jackpot claiming moment in order to keep their identity away from the public. However, this might prove difficult if they are locals of the small town of Lonaconing, where the ticket was purchased.
They claimed their prize of $546.8 million in cash. After taxes, the group will earn about $366.6 million.
A release from the Maryland State Lottery & Gaming Control Agency said that the person from “The Power Pack” who bought the ticket “checked it about a half dozen times” before telling the rest of the winners “this can’t be right; I’m going to work.”
7. $699.8 MILLION – October 4th, 2021
40 consecutive Powerball draws made no big winner. But, the draw of October 4th stopped this rollover streak as a lucky ticket owner, Scott Godfrey from California matched the winning numbers of the draw. This entitled him to a Powerball jackpot of $699.8 million. When claiming this mouth-watering jackpot, two months later, the lucky winner decided to cash it as a lump sum. The the cash option brought him a total of $496 million before taxes. The federal tax of 24% cut off about $119 million , leaving the him with a newly found fortune of $377 million.
8. $687.8 MILLION – October 27th, 2018
After a series of rollovers, the US Powerball jackpot drew worldwide attention with its $687.8 million jackpot of October 27th, 2018. Eventually, the pot was won that night. There were two tickets with the winning numbers. One of them was sold in New York and the other in Iowa. Each of the jackpot-winners will scoop an equal share of the prize, which amounts to $343.9 million.
Lerynne West of Redfield, Iowa was the first of the two winners to claim her prize. She chose the cash payout, which was worth $198.1 million before taxes. Mrs. West said that she intends to share her Powerball windfall with her family and friends, but also with people in need. She is setting up the Callum Foundation in honor of one of her grandsons who was born prematurely and passed away. The foundation was one of Mrs. West’s dreams and now that she finally has the finances for it, she can turn it into reality. Another one of her plans is to buy a big car and travel with her six grandsons.
The second jackpot winner is Robert Bailey from Manhattan, New York. He is 67 years old and he is a retired federal employee with a true passion for the lottery. He said that a family member gave him a set of lucky numbers and he has been playing them week after week for 25 years. Mr. Bailey said that he also had a ritual.
He used to buy his tickets from four different stores, but before the big Powerball draw of October 27th, he got his tickets from a deli in Harlem. It was raining outside, “so I went to the deli to get out of the rain and I bought my ticket there.” It certainly seems that it was a good move for Mr. Bailey because it brought him a jackpot worth $343.3 million.
As for what comes next for Robert Bailey, we will have to wait and see. He is no rush to spend his money but said that he is very happy and that he plans to make good investments for him and his family. He also wants to buy his mother a new house and to travel. Mr. Bailey also said that he wants to continue playing the lottery. “I will continue to play my numbers until this train runs out”, he said.
9. $632.6 MILLION – January 15th, 2022
After a rollover streak of 40 draw, the Powerball jackpot was finally won on January 15th, 2022 as two tickets matched all six numbers and split the $632.6 million jackpot. Each ticket wass worth an annuitized $316.3 million and $225.1 million cash respectively, prior to taxes.
After taxes, with the lump sum option the Californian winner, Orlando Zavala Lozano, scooped $142.4 million. Not bad for a win coming from a single Powerball ticket purchase!
On the other hand, the lovely couple, Tammy & Cliff Webster from Oneida, Wisconsin only scooped $125.1 million as the state also gets a 7.65% tax. They were over the moon with their win and declared that they couldn’t believe it at first.
10. $590 MILLION – May 18th, 2013
While the $1.6 BILLION Powerball jackpot was shared by three players, Gloria C. MacKenzie of Zephyrhills was the sole winner of the second largest jackpot in the history of the Powerball. At the respectable age of 84, Mrs. MacKenzie’s life took a very fortunate turn, as she scooped one of the biggest lottery prizes out there.
She had an established agreement with her son, Scott MacKenzie, to share any lottery win they may get. It was Mrs. MacKenzie herself who bought the winning ticket at a Publix grocery store, so it seems that she had the inspiration to choose the lucky Powerball numbers.
11. $587.5 MILLION – November 28th, 2012
The fifth-largest jackpot in Powerball history was worth a staggering $587.5 MILLION and it was won on November 28th 2012 by two ticket-holders in Arizona and Missouri. Matthew Good from Phoenix bought his winning lottery ticket in a local food store and he eventually opted for the $192 MILLION cash payment.
The other half of the $587.5 MILLION jackpot was won by Cindy and Mark Hill from Missouri. They have three sons and a 6-year old daughter whom they adopted from China. The entire family happily attended the press conference for their jackpot win and they were thrilled about their unexpected windfall.
12. $564 MILLION – February 11th, 2015
There were three winners for the $564 MILLION jackpot from February 11th, 2015. The happy ticket holders who shared this amazing prize were from North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and Texas. Each of them got an equal share of the prize worth a whopping $188 MILLION.
13. $559.7 MILLION – January 6th, 2018
The Powerball lottery has started 2018 with a full-on uproar about its huge $559.7 MILLION jackpot, and on the second draw of the year, a lucky ticket-holder from New Hampshire has scooped the big pot. With such a great start to 2018, we expect to see great things in the Powerball lottery this year!
14. $487 MILLION – July 30th, 2016
The fabulous $487 MILLION jackpot was claimed by a family in New Hampshire, who wished to preserve their anonymity. Their lawyers claimed the prize and told the press that “There couldn’t have been two better people or a better family to win this money” and that they would use it to do great things.
15. $456.7 MILLION – March 17th, 2018
The second hall of fame jackpot of 2018 worth $456.7 million was won on March 17th by a very lucky ticket-holder from Pennsylvania. This came 20 rollovers after the anonymous winner from New Jersey scooped the $559.7 million, which is our no.6 high jackpot. It remains to be seen if the Pennsylvania winner will choose to remain anonymous as well or if we will get to meet him/her.
16. $448 MILLION – August 7th, 2013
Three lucky ticket holders shared August 7th, 2013’s $448 MILLION Powerball jackpot. Two of them were from New Hampshire and the third was a Minnesota resident. Each of them had a claim to a $149.3 MILLION share of the prize, which is a life-changing amount.
With such a breathtaking jackpot hall of fame, the US Powerball has no match in the lottery industry. The prizes in this American lottery are simply larger than life and its main contenders could only hope to come close to its grandeur. So, don’t miss out on your chance to become a Powerball millionaire! Put in your ticket and who knows what it will bring you! Good luck!