Biggest Lottery Jackpots in History
The largest Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots ever won.
Top 10 Largest U.S. Lottery Jackpots
| # | Amount | Game | Date | Winning Ticket(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.04 Billion | Powerball | Nov 7, 2022 | Altadena, California |
| 2 | $1.765 Billion | Powerball | Oct 11, 2023 | California |
| 3 | $1.602 Billion | Mega Millions | Aug 8, 2023 | Neptune, Florida |
| 4 | $1.586 Billion | Powerball | Jan 13, 2016 | CA, FL, TN (3 winners) |
| 5 | $1.537 Billion | Mega Millions | Oct 23, 2018 | Simpsonville, South Carolina |
| 6 | $1.348 Billion | Mega Millions | Jan 13, 2023 | Lebanon, Maine |
| 7 | $1.337 Billion | Mega Millions | Jul 29, 2022 | Des Plaines, Illinois |
| 8 | $1.13 Billion | Mega Millions | Mar 26, 2024 | New Jersey |
| 9 | $1.08 Billion | Powerball | Jul 19, 2023 | Los Angeles, California |
| 10 | $842.4 Million | Powerball | Jan 1, 2024 | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
Top 5 Powerball Jackpots
1st
$2.04B
Nov 2022
2nd
$1.765B
Oct 2023
3rd
$1.586B
Jan 2016
4th
$1.08B
Jul 2023
5th
$842.4M
Jan 2024
Top 5 Mega Millions Jackpots
1st
$1.602B
Aug 2023
2nd
$1.537B
Oct 2018
3rd
$1.348B
Jan 2023
4th
$1.337B
Jul 2022
5th
$1.13B
Mar 2024
Jackpot Facts & Trends
- The largest lottery jackpot ever was $2.04 billion (Powerball, November 2022), won by a single ticket in California.
- 8 of the top 10 largest jackpots in U.S. history have occurred since 2022, as rule changes created larger starting amounts and faster rollover growth.
- Powerball jackpots start at $20 million and grow by at least $2 million per drawing when there's no winner.
- Mega Millions jackpots also start at $20 million with similar rollover mechanics.
- The cash (lump sum) value is typically 50–60% of the advertised jackpot amount. Use our tax calculator to estimate your take-home.
- California winners always receive the annuity value as the state calculates jackpots differently using pari-mutuel systems.
How Jackpots Grow
When no ticket matches all numbers in a drawing, the jackpot “rolls over” to the next drawing. As the jackpot grows, more people buy tickets, which increases the prize pool further. This snowball effect is why jackpots can reach billions of dollars. However, more ticket sales also increase the chance of multiple winners splitting the prize.
Tip: Want to see how the current jackpot would affect you financially? Try our Lottery Tax Calculator to estimate your after-tax take-home amount.