What are the 10 largest US lottery jackpots ever won?

The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $1 billion for Saturday night’s drawing after lottery officials confirmed no ticket matched all six numbers in Wednesday’s draw. This latest prize joins an exclusive club of billion-dollar lottery jackpots that have captured the American public’s imagination in recent years.

Since 2016, the United States has witnessed more than a dozen lottery prizes exceed the billion-dollar threshold, reflecting the growing popularity of these games despite the astronomical odds against winning.

The current Powerball run-up comes at a time when Americans are increasingly seeking life-changing windfalls amid economic uncertainty. Lottery officials report ticket sales typically surge exponentially as jackpots approach the billion-dollar mark, with casual players joining regular participants in the hope of striking it rich.

The largest prize in U.S. lottery history remains the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot won on November 7, 2022. That winning ticket was sold at a gas station in the Los Angeles area, instantly transforming the lives of the winner and generating significant tax revenue for California.

The second-largest jackpot, worth $1.787 billion, was split between winners in Missouri and Texas after the Powerball drawing on September 6, 2023. This rare occurrence of multiple winners for such a massive prize highlighted how fortune can sometimes be shared.

California has proven particularly lucky for jackpot seekers. The third-largest prize—a $1.765 billion Powerball jackpot won on October 11, 2023—went to a ticket purchased at a liquor store in a small California mountain community. The windfall dramatically altered the economic landscape of the tiny town.

Florida joined the billion-dollar winners circle when a $1.602 billion Mega Millions prize was claimed from a ticket sold at a Neptune Beach supermarket on August 8, 2023. The coastal community briefly became the center of national attention following the win.

The fifth-largest jackpot in history—$1.586 billion from the Powerball drawing on January 13, 2016—was divided among three winning tickets purchased in California, Florida, and Tennessee. This historic drawing marked one of the first times a U.S. lottery prize surpassed the billion-dollar threshold, setting the stage for the mega-jackpots that would follow.

Other notable billion-dollar prizes include a $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot won in South Carolina in October 2018, a $1.348 billion Mega Millions prize claimed in Maine in January 2023, and a $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot won at a Chicago-area gas station in July 2022.

More recently, a convenience store in Oregon sold the winning ticket for a $1.326 billion Powerball jackpot in April 2024, while a gas station in Northern California produced the winner of a $1.269 billion Mega Millions prize in December 2024.

Lottery officials note that the increasing frequency of billion-dollar jackpots stems from several factors, including higher ticket prices, rule changes that have made jackpots more difficult to win, and the growing popularity of multi-state games. These factors combine to create longer periods without winners, allowing prize pools to accumulate to unprecedented levels.

Financial advisors consistently caution that winners of such massive sums face unique challenges, from tax implications to personal security concerns. Many past winners have opted to remain anonymous where state laws permit, highlighting the life-changing—and sometimes problematic—nature of such sudden wealth.

As Americans purchase tickets ahead of Saturday’s drawing, convenience stores across the country are experiencing the familiar rush of hopeful players. Whether this jackpot will find a winner or continue growing remains to be seen, but it has already secured its place among the exclusive club of billion-dollar American lottery prizes.