What Are the Biggest Mega Millions Jackpots Ever?
With the words mega and millions in its name, it's no wonder that the American lottery Mega Millions is known for having mega jackpots. In fact, Mega Millions has come incredibly close to breaking the record for largest jackpot ever. If you too want a chance to win mega-sized prizes, join US MegaLuck draws at theLotter Australia and play with the same rules, odds, and of course, astronomical jackpots and prizes!
Top 10 Biggest Mega Millions Jackpots
10. Richard Wahl - 30 March 2018 - US$533 Million
Second time was the charm for 47-year-old production manager Richard Wahl, who won US$533 million with his second-ever Mega Millions ticket. CNN reported that the man from New Jersey planned to use the money to fulfil his dream of restoring a 1963 Corvette. Additionally, he planned to share his good fortune with his friends, family, and charities, stating, "It's not only life-changing money for me, but I want it to be life-changing money for others.", the family has chosen to stay anonymous to protect the safety and well-being of their children.
9. Warren D, LLC - 8 July 2016 - US$536 Million
It was just a typical day for an Indiana family who decided to buy a few US Mega Millions tickets on a whim while stopping for gas. Little did they know that one of those tickets would change their lives forever when the second row matched all of the winning numbers in the 8 July 2016 draw for a US$536 million jackpot!
The family's final payout was a US$271 lump sum, after taxes. According to the Courier Journal, the family has chosen to stay anonymous to protect the safety and well-being of their children.
8. 11 California Co-workers – 24 July 2018 - US$543 Million
Eleven employees at a finance company in Santa Clara, California each decided to pitch in US$2 for Mega Millions tickets. After the 24 July 2018 draw, their US$2 turned into US$29 million each!
Roland Reyes accepted the prize of US$320.5 million on behalf of his group, who opted for a lump sum payment. According to NBC News, the workers decided not to name the company so that they could continue their usual work routine. "We want to keep our jobs. We love that company. We love what we've built there. We have a good time and want to stay together."
7. Ira Curry and Steve Tran - 17 December 2013 - US$648 Million
It took twenty-one rollovers until the US Mega Millions jackpot a massive US$648 million (almost a billion Australian dollars!) was finally won on 17 December 2013. The jackpot was split between two winners, with each winner receiving US$173,819,742 before taxes.
The first to come forward was 56-year-old Ira Curry from Stone Mountain, Georgia. Ira had used family birthdays and his lucky number to pick his numbers.
The second winner was Steve Tran from San Jose, California. Tran almost missed out on the momentous win, as his lucky ticket had been sitting in a pile of old tickets!
6. Merle & Patricia Butler, The Three Amigos, and Anonymous - 30 March 2012 - US$656 Million
The 30 March 2012 drawing had not one, not two, but three jackpot winners! The winner from Kansas made use of the state's laws to remain anonymous when accepting their US$218.6 piece of the prize money.
The second ticket belonged to a group of Maryland public school employees who went by the name "The Three Amigos." Each put in US$20 to collectively buy sixty tickets, and in return, they ended up splitting US$218.6 million!
The last ticket belonged to married couple Merle and Patricia Butler from Red Bud, Illinois who took home a lump sum payout worth US$111 million after taxes.
5. Wolverine FFL Club - 22 January 2021 - US$1.05 Billion
After a record thirty-seven rollovers, the Mega Millions jackpot was over the billion-dollar mark, sitting at a staggering US$1.05 billion!
According to CNN, the ticket had been purchased in Oakland County, Michigan by The Wolverine FFL Club. The group decided to take the winnings in a lump sum of US$776 million (US$557 million after taxes), netting each participant just under US$140 million.
A lawyer accepted the cheque and read out a statement on behalf of the group, stating "This kind of money will impact the families of our club members for generations to come. We plan to stay humble and pay it forward through charitable giving in southeast Michigan."
4. Anonymous - 29 July 2022 - US$1.337 Billion
US Mega Millions broke the billion-dollar barrier a third time in July 2022 after three months of rollovers that had the whole world scrambling to purchase tickets. A single ticket sold in Illinois finally matched the winning numbers - 13, 36, 45, 57, 67, and the Mega Ball number 14 - and took the entire $1.337 billion (US$780.5 million cash value) jackpot prize!
3. LaKoma Island Investments, LLC - 13 January 2023 - US$1.348 Billion
Friday the 13th in January 2023 turned out to be as lucky as it gets for a player, who matched all six numbers - 30, 43, 45, 46, and 61, and Mega Ball 14- and won the entire US$1.348 billion (US$723.5 million cash value) jackpot! The winning ticket, sold in Lebanon, Maine, is the state’s first-ever Mega Millions jackpot win.
The winner chose to remain anonymous and has chosen to collect the cash value amount through a limited liability company. A representative of the winner stated, "The winner is thoughtfully considering the best uses of the life-changing prize".
2. Anonymous - 23 October 2018 - US$1.537 Billion
This much-anticipated draw made headlines across the globe in October 2018 when the jackpot surpassed the billion-dollar mark for the first time in Mega Millions history. Even with ticket sales slightly lower than expected, it still reached an impressive $1.537 billion (AUD $2.179 billion). While it didn’t break the American Powerball record at the time, it was still a groundbreaking moment for the lottery and fans alike.
For obvious reasons, the winner chose to remain anonymous so not much is known other than that the ticket was sold in South Carolina with the winning numbers 5, 28, 62, 65, and 50, plus the Mega Ball 5.
What was the Biggest Mega Millions Jackpot in History?
1. Saltines Holdings LLC - 8 August 2023 - US$1.602 Billion
A 32-draw rollover streak ended when a single ticket in Neptune Beach, Florida won the US$1.602 billion ($794.2 million cash value ) jackpot prize! The Quick Pick ticket matched all the winning numbers: 13, 19, 20, 32, 33, and Mega Ball 14.
The winners revealed their identity as Saltines Holdings LLC in December 2023 and are now the owners of the biggest Mega Millions jackpot ever awarded and the 3rd largest prize in US lottery history! This incredible prize falls right behind the top two biggest US Powerball jackpots.
When Will the Next Biggest Mega Millions Jackpot be Won?
It's impossible to know when the next record jackpot will be won. Still, with the odds of winning Mega Millions set at 1:302.6 million, it could take a while before another jackpot reaches record-breaking status again! At theLotter Australia, Aussie fans can also enjoy this exciting lottery game with the same rules, odds, and incredible prizes! Try your luck at winning US MegaLuck today by purchasing lotto tickets before the next draw. You can also take a shot at winning another incredible American lottery alternative - US PowerLuck!
theLotter Australia customers are not purchasing lottery tickets or participating in lotteries directly. theLotter Australia uses third-party agents to purchase lottery tickets; customers are purchasing for the opportunity to receive monies equivalent to prize winnings.