In the past, we’ve talked about lottery pools and how they can be an interesting strategy to increase your chances of winning. By teaming up with family, friends, or coworkers, you can buy more tickets and cover more winning number combinations. But do lottery pools really work? Have any of these groups actually won the lottery? Well, today we’re going to find out. We will share some fascinating stories of groups that have defied the odds and hit the jackpot.
Has a group of people ever won the lottery?
Creating lottery pools is a common practice, and you can do it with anyone: friends, family, or even neighbors. However, workplace pools are often the most common. In fact, organizing co-worker pools is a strategy that many workplaces use to strengthen bonds among employees and improve professional relationships. Plus, participating in a lottery pool can be a great morale booster, adding a little excitement to the daily grind.
Now let’s talk about the important stuff: the odds of winning. The odds of winning a big jackpot like the Mega Millions are about 1 in 302.6 million. The advantage of lottery pools is that you can buy more tickets without spending more than you planned to spend individually. Buying more tickets increases your chances of winning.
Here are 6 inspiring stories of groups that used this strategy and won the lottery.
The Breakfast Club: $846 Million Powerball Jackpot
Remember the New Year’s Day Powerball jackpot? Well, it was won by one of these lottery groups. On January 1, 2024, The Breakfast Club from mid-Michigan matched all 6 Powerball numbers and took home the $846 million jackpot. This is the largest jackpot ever won in Michigan. The club members opted to take their prize in a lump sum and walked away with $305 million after taxes.
Santa Clara County Office Pool: $543 Million in Powerball
In July 2018, a group of 11 co-workers made a last-minute decision: they bought a Powerball ticket. The surprise came when they matched the numbers and won the $543 million jackpot. According to the press, the players didn’t have a regular lottery pool; they simply took a chance on the game, each contributing $2.
Long Island Coworkers: $437 Million Mega Millions
In the first Mega Millions drawing of 2019, a group of co-workers from the Long Island area struck gold with a $437 million jackpot. According to the official Mega Millions website, the players purchased the winning ticket as part of a $5 Super Pack from the New York Lottery. This Super Pack provided them with a Quick Pick entry for each of New York’s jackpot games: Mega Millions, Powerball and Lotto. As it turned out, the Super Pack brought them tremendous luck.
The Tennessee 20: $420 Million in Powerball Prizes
And when we talk about lottery groups that have won big, we cannot forget the Tennessee 20. In November 2016, this group of 20 workers from an auto parts manufacturing plant finally achieved their big win in the Powerball. After playing the lottery for 8 years, the group matched the winning numbers and took home the $420 million jackpot. The winners split the prize equally, with each taking home about $12.7 million before taxes.
The Jones 30 Group: $1 Million in the Powerball
After years of playing the same numbers, the Jones 30 Group finally struck gold in the Powerball. This group, made up of employees at Rector A. Jones Middle School in Florence, Kentucky, won the $1 million second prize in Powerball. After splitting the prize equally, each of the 30 members of the group received approximately $33,333, or about $24,000 after taxes.
The Blessed Lottery: $100,000 in Powerball
Lottery pools in Michigan seem to have some good luck with the Powerball. In October 2023, one of these groups, known as The Blessed Lottery, matched the 4 main numbers plus the Powerball and won the $50,000 third prize. But that’s not all. The group had chosen the Power Play option, which doubled their winnings and ended up taking home $100,000. This group started 14 years ago, and after all that time, their moment to win finally arrived.
How winnings are distributed in lottery groups?
The distribution of winnings in lottery groups varies based on the prior agreement of the group members and the specific rules of the pool. Typically, each member contributes an equal amount to purchase lottery tickets, and if the group wins a prize, the winnings are divided equally among the members.
However, some groups prefer different methods for sharing winnings. In some pools, members contribute different amounts of money, so winnings are distributed in proportion to each member’s contribution.
To avoid conflicts, it’s important for the group to have a clear, written agreement on how winnings will be distributed before tickets are purchased. This agreement should outline contributions, distribution of prizes, tax handling, and any other relevant details to ensure a fair and transparent distribution. This way, winning groups can enjoy their winnings without any problems or misunderstandings.
Summing up…
The answer to the first question of whether lottery groups have ever won the lottery is a resounding yes. So, are you ready to start your own lottery group?
The most important thing is to form your lottery group with trustworthy people. It’s also important to put all agreements in writing, from how tickets will be purchased to how winnings will be shared. This will ensure that everything is clear and you can enjoy your winnings with peace of mind.
So if you dream of hitting the jackpot, consider teaming up with friends, family or colleagues to play together. And who knows, you might just be one of those groups that won the lottery!
See you next time. Until then, good luck with your lottery numbers!