Biggest Lottery Jackpots in US History

Record-Breaking US Lottery Jackpots

US lottery jackpots have grown dramatically over the past decade, with seven prizes now exceeding $1.5 billion. The era of billion-dollar jackpots began in January 2016 and has accelerated since, driven by game format changes that made jackpots harder to win — and therefore, larger when they finally are won. These massive prizes generate enormous public interest, with ticket sales often surging by 10-20x during the final days before a record drawing.

Top 7 Jackpots of All Time

$2.04 Billion — Powerball, November 7, 2022: Won by a single ticket in Altadena, California. This remains the largest lottery jackpot in US and world history. The winning numbers were 10-33-41-47-56 with Powerball 10. The winner chose the lump sum cash option of approximately $997.6 million before taxes. The jackpot had rolled for 40 consecutive drawings before being hit.
$1.817 Billion — Powerball, December 2025: Won in Arkansas, making it the second-largest jackpot in US history. This massive prize came just months after another billion-dollar Powerball drawing, demonstrating how quickly jackpots can escalate with three weekly drawings.
$1.787 Billion — Powerball, September 2025: Split between ticket holders in Missouri and Texas. Split jackpots at this level are relatively rare — the last time a jackpot above $1 billion was shared was the $1.586 billion prize in 2016.
$1.765 Billion — Powerball, October 11, 2023: Won by a single ticket in California. The winner opted for the lump sum payment of approximately $774.1 million. This jackpot built over 35 drawings without a winner.
$1.602 Billion — Mega Millions, August 8, 2023: Won by a single ticket sold in Neptune Beach, Florida. This is the largest Mega Millions jackpot in history and the largest single-ticket jackpot from either game. The winning numbers were 13-36-45-57-67 with Mega Ball 14.
$1.586 Billion — Powerball, January 13, 2016: Split three ways between winners in California, Florida, and Tennessee. This was the first US lottery jackpot to exceed $1 billion and held the record for nearly seven years. The jackpot rolled for 19 consecutive drawings.
$1.537 Billion — Mega Millions, October 23, 2018: Won by a single ticket in Simpsonville, South Carolina. The anonymous winner did not come forward for several months. The winning numbers were 5-28-62-65-70 with Mega Ball 5.

Why Are Jackpots Getting Bigger?

Several structural factors have driven jackpots to unprecedented levels:

Longer odds: Powerball expanded its number pool in 2015 (from 1-59 to 1-69 for white balls), making jackpots harder to win and allowing them to roll to much higher amounts. Mega Millions made similar changes in 2017.
More frequent drawings: Powerball added a Monday drawing in 2021, increasing from 2 to 3 draws per week. More drawings mean more ticket sales and faster jackpot growth during rollovers.
Higher ticket prices: Mega Millions increased from $2 to $5 in April 2025, with starting jackpots now at $50 million instead of $20 million.
Cross-state availability: Both games are now available in 45 states, maximizing the player pool and ticket revenue.
Media attention: Large jackpots create a feedback loop — news coverage drives more ticket purchases, which grow the jackpot further, generating even more coverage.

Annuity vs. Lump Sum

The advertised jackpot amounts listed above represent the annuity value — the total paid out over 30 annual payments. Nearly all jackpot winners choose the lump sum cash option instead, which is typically 50-60% of the advertised amount. For example, the $2.04 billion winner received approximately $997.6 million before federal and state taxes. After taxes, the take-home amount is roughly 35-45% of the advertised jackpot, varying by state tax rates.

What is Next?

With Mega Millions now starting at $50 million and Powerball drawing three times per week, the pace of record-breaking jackpots is only accelerating. Industry analysts expect that a $3 billion jackpot is likely within the next several years, especially as ticket prices and participation continue to grow.