What’s the biggest lottery win in your state?
Wonder no more! Here’s a list of the biggest lottery winnings by state in the U.S. This list covers the largest lottery winnings with a single lottery ticket (no sharing!) in each state.
Any states not represented do not have a state lottery.
(Related: Luckiest States for Winning Powerball)
Image Credit: Wpadington/Istockphoto.
Arizona
Prize: $410M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
The first Mega Millions win in the state is also the biggest jackpot win ever in Arizona.
Image Credit: Michael Burrell/Istockphoto.
Arkansas
Prize: $177M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
This jackpot was won on April Fools Day…but this lottery prize is no joke.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/istockphoto.
California
Prize: $2.04B
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Drumroll for the biggest lottery jackpot in history!
Image Credit: istockphoto/GerardoBrucker.
Colorado
Prize: $133M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
A CO woman finally wins the jackpot after playing her numbers for 30 years.
Image Credit: Warren-Pender / istockphoto.
Connecticut
Prize: $254.2M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Three wealth management co-workers won on 1 Quick Pick ticket.
Image Credit: SeanPavonePhoto/istockphoto.
Delaware
Prize: $121M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Won by a group of 33 co-workers from a DE printing company.
Image Credit: AndreyPopov/istockphoto.
Florida
Prize: $1.58B
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
This ultra lucky winner secured the largest win in the game’s history….but this lottery prize is no joke.
Image Credit: ULora/istockphoto.
Georgia
Prize: $648M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
“It’s like I’m still dreaming.”
Image Credit: WoodysPhotos/Istockphoto.
Idaho
Prize: $220.3M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
A pick-your-own numbers victory in Idaho..”
Image Credit: knowlesgallery/istockphoto.
Illinois
Prize: $1.337B
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
“It’s the largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois…”
Image Credit: Julie Clopper/istockphoto.
Indiana
Prize: $536M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
This Hoosier bought their winning ticket on the way to their child’s sports game.
Image Credit: Lee Lawson/Istockphoto.
Iowa
Prize: $343.9M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
This single-mom nearly lost her ticket after dropping it on the floor of her sister’s truck.
Image Credit: Wirestock/istockphoto.
Kansas
Prize: $218.6M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
The winner said they were looking forward to early retirement.
Image Credit: istockphoto/Sean Pavone.
Kentucky
Prize: $218.6M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
All of Kentucky’s top jackpot winners won on Powerball.
Image Credit: JT Crawford / istockphoto.
Louisiana
Prize: $191M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
A 3-member family partnership took home the prize.
Image Credit: Lee Lawson/Istockphoto.
Maine
Prize: $1.348B
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
Maine won its first Mega Millions jackpot on a Friday the 13th.
Image Credit: istockphoto.
Maryland
Prize: $731.1M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
An anonymous group, known as “The Power Pack,” said they would use the money to invest in their community.
Image Credit: Wirestock/istockphoto.
Massachusetts
Prize: $758.7M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
A hospital worker opted for the lump sum.
Image Credit: danlogan/istockphoto.
Michigan
Prize: $1.05B
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
A lottery club bought their winning ticket at a local Kroger.
Image Credit: JerryB7/istockphoto.
Minnesota
Prize: $229M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
“He is retired as of 14 or 15 hours ago,” the winner’s wife said.
Image Credit: atosan/istockphoto.
Mississippi
Prize: $524K
Game: Match 5
Get the Story:
This is the biggest prize since MS lottery began selling tickets in 2019.
Image Credit: Lee Lawson/Istockphoto.
Missouri
Prize: $192.4M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
“I think we’ll have a good Christmas.”
Image Credit: Perry Spring/Istockphoto.
Montana
Prize: $48.5M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
“Mostly I’ve just got to let it sink in and let it feel real.”
Image Credit: miroslav_1/istockphoto.
Nebraska
Prize: $365M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Eight ham processing plant co-workers became instant millionaires.
Image Credit: Jacob Boomsma/istockphoto.
New Hampshire
Prize: $559.7M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
“My client doesn’t want any accolades, she doesn’t want any credit. She just wants to do good things.”
Image Credit: Ralf Geithe/istockphoto.
New Jersey
Prize: $559.7M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
The winning ticket was sold at ShopRite Liquor #781 in Neptune Township, NJ.
Image Credit: Wirestock/istockphoto.
New Mexico
Prize: $206.9M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
A group of friends chipped in for the winning ticket.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/istockphoto.
New York
Prize: $432M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
The biggest Big Apple win was sold at Pronto Pizza.
Image Credit: Masha Zolotukhina/Istockphoto.
North Carolina
Prize: $344.6M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Numbers from a fortune cookie are responsible for this winner’s good fortune.
Image Credit: J. Michael Jones/Istockphoto.
North Dakota
Prize: $3M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
Two $3 million Mega Millions prizes are tied for biggest wins in ND.
Image Credit: Wirestock/istockphoto.
Ohio
Prize: $372M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
A record December lottery win set the stage for a very Happy Holiday.
Image Credit: LeventKonuk/istockphoto.
Oklahoma
Prize: $105.8M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
“Basically I just broke down and cried.”
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/istockphoto.
Oregon
Prize: $1.326B
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Lottery gold won in Portland, Oregon
Image Credit: jbentley09/istockphoto.
Pennsylvania
Prize: $516M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
“This is life-changing generational money.”
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/istockphoto.
Puerto Rico
Prize: $127M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
This prize marks the first winning Powerball jackpot ticket ever sold outside the continental U.S.
Image Credit: IGraDesign/Istockphoto.
Rhode Island
Prize: $336.4M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
“We are truly blessed.”
Image Credit: SeanPavonePhoto/istockphoto.
South Carolina
Prize: $1.537B
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
“I can’t even count that number.”
Image Credit: J. Michael Jones/istockphoto.
South Dakota
Prize: $232.1M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
South Dakota’s very own Powerball jackpot won in Pierre.
Image Credit: istockphoto.
Tennessee
Prize: $420.9M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
“Everyone was screaming — just the joy!”
Image Credit: SeanPavonePhoto/Istockphoto.
Texas
Prize: $420.9M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Someone in San Angelo matched all six numbers drawn & chose the cash option as the time of purchase.
Image Credit: carrollmt/Istockphoto.
U.S. Virgin Islands
Prize: $2M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
A St. Croix resident won by matching 5 numbers.
Image Credit: Coast-to-Coast/Istockphoto.
Vermont
Prize: $366.7
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Also the one and only Powerball jackpot won by VT.
Image Credit: SeanPavonePhoto/istockphoto.
Virginia
Prize: $239M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
“Sweetheart, we got the numbers.”
Image Credit: SeanPavonePhoto/istockphoto.
Washington
Prize: $754.6M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
The winner could opt for the annuity option or a one-time cash payment of $407.2 million.
Image Credit: LUNAMARINA/istockphoto.
Washington, D.C.
Prize: $144M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
An 82-year-old lifelong resident took home the jackpot.
Image Credit: Coast-to-Coast/istockphoto.
West Virginia
Prize: $314.9M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
The drawing took place on Christmas Day.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/istockphoto.
Wisconsin
Prize: $768.4M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
“I just had that lucky feeling.”
Image Credit: Jon Mattrisch/istockphoto.
Wyoming
Prize: $5M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
The biggest lottery win in Wyoming was sold in Evanston.
Image Credit: Jef Wodniack/Istockphoto.
Your Odds of Winning the Lottery
The lottery is a game of chance. People use dozens of strategies to try and boost their chance of winning a life-changing prize. From scrutinizing the numbers (or choosing seemingly random numbers) to joining your lottery pool at work, there are many ways people choose to play. Do these strategies affect your odds? Not at all. Everyone has the same chance of picking the winning lottery numbers.
Can Lottery Winners Choose to Remain Anonymous?
When you learn about the most lottery winnings by state, we bet you want to know if those winners had the option to remain anonymous when they claimed their prize. The answer is that it depends. States have their own rules about whether lottery winners can remain anonymous. And there may be stipulations on those rules, too. For example, in Texas, you can remain anonymous only if the prize won is over $1 million. Check your state lottery website for more information on which regulations apply to you.
(Related: These Are the “Luckiest” Powerball Numbers in 2024)
Image Credit: ablokhin / iStock.
How Much Are Lottery Winnings Taxed?
So, what happens if you win? If you join the biggest lottery winners, be ready to give Uncle Sam his piece of the pie. Any winnings above $599.99 are considered income in the eyes of the IRS and will be taxed as such. Your normal income tax rate will be charged for prizes from $600 to $4,999.99. Once you hit $5,000, the IRS will take 24% of your total winnings.
Depending on your other income, this could push you into a higher tax bracket, so be prepared to pay the difference between what the IRS has already taken and your actual tax bracket in additional taxes. For example, if your total income between work and your lottery winnings puts you in the 37% tax bracket, you will owe an additional 13% of your winnings back to the government.
This article originally appeared on Jackpocket.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
Image Credit: Jacob Wackerhausen/istockphoto.
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