Powerball is one of the most famous lottery games in the United States and around the world. The reason for its popularity, we all know it: the prizes. Since its beginnings in 1992, Powerball has amazed players with its incredible rewards. But do you know what the biggest Powerball jackpots has been? Well, we’ve listed the top ten Powerball jackpots.
The Powerball Lottery: An Overview
Before we dive into the biggest Powerball jackpots, let’s refresh some basic elements of this game.
Powerball is a multi-state lottery game that currently operates in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was launched in 1992 as a replacement for Lotto America and is now one of the most renowned lottery games in the United States.
How to play Powerball
To play you must select five numbers from a range of 1-69 and an additional number, the Powerball, from a range of 1-26.
Powerball tickets cost about $2 and drawings are held three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. ET.
How do I know if I am a Powerball winner?
With the Lottonia App, you’ll get automatic winner notifications sent directly to your phone and email. Don’t miss out on all the lottery prizes and draws. Download Lottonia and make sure you don’t miss out on any good news.
Top 10 Powerball Jackpots
Here are the 10 biggest jackpots in Powerball history. And trust us, the $2.04 billion prize won’t be the only one to blow your mind.
- $2.04 billion (California) – Nov. 7, 2022
- $1.765 billion (California) – Oct. 11, 2023
- $1.586.4 billion (California, Florida and Tennessee) – Jan. 13, 2016
- $1.326 billion (Oregon)- April 6, 2024
- $1.08 billion (California) – Jul. 19, 2023
- $842.4 million (Michigan) – Jan. 1, 2024
- $768.4 million (Wisconsin) – Mar. 27, 2019
- $758.7 million (Massachusetts) – Aug. 23, 2017
- $754.6 million (Whashinton) – Feb. 6, 2023
- $731.1 million (Maryland) – Jan. 20, 2021
Biggest Powerball Winners in History
Now that we’ve looked at Powerball’s biggest prizes, what if we delved into the lives of the people who won them? It’s time to learn more about the lucky winners behind these amazing jackpots.
1. Edwin Castro: $2.04 Billion (November 7, 2022)
Leading our list is Edwin Castro, who holds the world record for the largest Powerball jackpot ever won. On November 7, 2022, California’s Castro took home the astonishing sum of $2.04 billion. He opted for a lump-sum payment and received an incredible $997.6 million, just shy of a billion.
2. Anonymous: $1.765 Billion (October 11, 2023)
It took 35 draws for someone to snag the second-largest Powerball jackpot. But the wait was undoubtedly worth it. On October 11, 2023, a California player matched all six numbers and snagged the second-largest lottery jackpot in the US. We’re talking about $1.765 billion, with a cash value of $774.1 million.
3. Lisa & John Robinson; The Nickel 95 Trust; & Marvin and Mae Acosta: $1.586 Billion (January 13, 2016)
Powerball made lottery history with a massive $1.586 billion jackpot. It was the first time the jackpot had reached one billion dollars. This prize set the record for the largest Powerball jackpot ever won and held the record for six years. The jackpot was shared by three people: Lisa and John Robinson of Tennessee, The Nickel 95 Trust of Florida, and Marvin and Mae Acosta of California. The winners opted for a lump sum and each took home $327,835,077.79.
4. Anonymus: $1.326 Billion (April 6, 2024)
A lucky ticket sold in Oregon hit the jackpot on April 6, 2024 by matching all six numbers in the Powerball drawing. The prize? A whopping $1.326 billion, with a cash value of $621 million.
5. Yanira Alvarez: $1.08 Billion (July 19, 2023)
And we have another jackpot for California, no less than $1.08 billion. In July of 2023, Yanira Alvarez of Los Angeles matched 5 numbers plus the Powerball to win the fifth-largest Powerball jackpot and the seventh-largest U.S. Lottery jackpot ever.
6. Anonymous: $842.4 Million (January 1, 2024)
The year 2024 started off with a bang. For the first time in Powerball history, someone hit the jackpot on New Year’s Day. A single ticket from Michigan won the $842.4 million Powerball jackpot, with a cash value of $425.2 million.
7. Manuel Franco: $768.4 Million (March 27, 2019)
In March 2019, Manuel Franco from Wisconsin was the sole winner of the $768.4 million jackpot. The 24-year-old Franco said, “It was amazing. My heart started racing, my blood started pumping. My blood felt warm. I screamed for about five or ten minutes… the two dollar ticket you buy is worth the chance to change your life forever. It certainly changed my life. He chose a one-time lump sum payment of $477 million, or $326 million after taxes.
8. Mavis Wanczyk: $758.7 Million (August 23, 2017)
Mavis Wanczyk, a hospital worker from Massachusetts, won an incredible $758.7 million jackpot prize on August 23, 2017. Like many lottery winners, she decided to retire and quit her job of 32 years. Wanczyk told reporters that after learning she had won, she called her workplace to say she would never return. “The first thing I want to do is sit down and relax.
9. Becky Bell: $754.6 Million (February 6, 2023)
Life is full of signals; we just have to pay attention. Becky Bell’s story is a perfect example. On February 5, 2023, she was in a store when she saw the Washington Lottery machine displaying the estimated Powerball jackpot of 747 million. Bell remembered that her employer, The Boeing Company, had just delivered its last 747 jumbo jet a few days earlier. So she decided to try her luck…and it worked out pretty well.
10. The Power Pack: $731.1 Million (January 20, 2021)
On January 2021, a group of anonymous players calling themselves The Power Pack won Maryland’s largest lottery jackpot. They chose the $546.8 million lump sum cash option. The winner, who bought the Quick Pick ticket, couldn’t believe it and told the rest of the Power Pack, “This can’t be right. I’m going to work.”
Summing up…
Feeling inspired by the stories of these amazing Powerball winners? Ready to give it a shot? Luck could be just around the corner, and you could be the next Powerball jackpot winner. Just remember to always play responsibly. See you next time. Until then, good luck!