The Biggest Lottery Jackpots of All Time

 

Table of contents:

Table of Contents:

• POWERBALL VS MEGAMILLIONS: WHICH LOTTERY IS BETTER FOR UK PLAYERS?
• BILLION-DOLLAR JACKPOTS - JUST HOW BIG ARE THEY?
• TOP 10 BIGGEST LOTTERY JACKPOTS
• MEET THE BIGGEST LOTTERY WINNERS IN HISTORY
• CAN YOU PLAY POWERBALL IN UK?
• HOW TO PLAY MEGAMILLIONS IN UK
• HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BET FROM THE UK?
• I’VE WON A PRIZE – WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
• FAQ : POWERBALL VS MEGAMILLIONS

Powerball vs Mega Millions: Which Lottery is Better for UK Players?

When it comes to choosing between the two US lottery giants – Powerball and Mega Millions – it helps to compare them side by side. While both offer massive jackpots, their odds, draw schedules, and number formats differ slightly. Below is a quick comparison to help UK players understand how each one stacks up.

Billion-Dollar Jackpots – Just How Big Are They?

To put things into perspective, $1 billion in $1 bills would stretch around 96,900 miles – almost four times around the Earth.

You could:

• Buy a Premier League football club
• Own a fleet of private jets
• Fund over 2,500 full scholarships to Harvard
• Take 3,000+ people to space

🏆 Top 10 Biggest Lottery Jackpots 

Unsurprisingly, the table for the biggest lottery winners in the world is dominated by Powerball and Mega Millions. The biggest ever EuroMillions jackpot to date is €250 million which was won in March 2025. Still, this would not even place it in the top ten biggest world jackpots. 

It's worth noting that US lottery winnings are heavily taxed at both federal and state levels, significantly reducing the final payout. Still, even after taxes, the jackpots remain far larger than those offered elsewhere.

***Won by three players

🥇 Meet the Biggest Lottery Winners in History

Some wins are so massive they make headlines around the world. Below, we look at the top 5 biggest lottery jackpot winners in history — featuring record-breaking wins from Powerball and Mega Millions, with some incredible stories behind the lucky numbers.

1) 💰 $2.04 Billion – Powerball (7 November 2022)

An anonymous single-ticket winner from California, USA claimed the biggest lottery jackpot of all time: a staggering $2.04 billion Powerball prize. The winning ticket was purchased at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, earning the retailer owner, Joe Chahayed, a $1 million bonus.

Winning Numbers: 10, 33, 41, 47, 56 | Powerball: 10

2) 💰 $1.765 Billion – Powerball (11 October 2023)

Another record-setting Powerball win landed in California, with a single winner scooping a $1.765 billion jackpot.

Winning Numbers: 24, 52, 40, 22, 64 | Powerball: 10

3) 💰 $1.602 Billion – Mega Millions (8 August 2023)

A Florida-based player made history with the biggest Mega Millions jackpot ever, winning $1.602 billion. The ticket was purchased at a Publix supermarket in Neptune Beach, Florida, and had a cash value of $794.2 million — making it the second-largest single-ticket win in lottery history.

Winning Numbers: 13, 19, 20, 32, 33 | Mega Ball: 14

4) 💰 $1.586 Billion – Powerball (13 January 2016)

This iconic Powerball jackpot was shared by three winning tickets in Florida, Tennessee, and California — each taking home over $328 million.

👫 David Kaltschmidt & Maureen Smith (Florida)

• Took a cautious approach and remained in their seaside home.
• David bought an SUV, Maureen opted for a gold Tesla.
• Still enjoyed fishing from their backyard dock — low-key millionaires.

 

🏡 John & Lisa Robinson (Tennessee)

• Initially said they’d stay in their modest home.
• Six months later, they’d moved into a £5 million mansion with 320 acres and a private lake.

 

🤫 Marvin & Mae Acosta (California)

• Waited 6 months to claim their prize.
• Donated much of their winnings to charitable causes and set up a trust.
• The 7-Eleven store owner that sold their ticket also won a $1 million bonus.

 

Winning Numbers: 4, 8, 18, 27, 34 | Powerball: 10

5) 💰 $1.537 Billion – Mega Millions (23 October 2018)

In one of the most heartwarming lottery tales, a South Carolina winner landed $1.537 billion — thanks to letting another customer go ahead of them in line at KC Mart No. 7.

The winner chose to remain anonymous and took a lump sum payout of $877.8 million, turning a £2 bet into a fortune.

Winning Numbers: 5, 28, 62, 65, 70 | Mega Ball: 5

Can you Play Powerball in UK?

You can bet on Powerball from the UK with Lottoland. Just create an account, pick your numbers and wish for the best. All from the comfort of your own home!

PowerPlay is a thrilling Powerball feature that lets you boost non-jackpot prizes — giving UK players the chance to win significantly more on every bet.

Here’s how it works:

• 🎯 If you land a Tier 2 prize (just one number short of the jackpot), your winnings are automatically doubled
• 🔁 For other lower-tier prizes, the multiplier can be 2x, 3x, or 5x, depending on the PowerPlay ball drawn
• 💡 When the jackpot is below $150 million, a special 10x multiplier is also in play — offering even greater prize boosts

How to Play MegaMillions in UK

Lottoland offers lotto betting on Mega Millions from the UK. When you bet on Powerball from the UK, every line now includes a FREE multiplier, giving you the chance to boost your winnings on non-jackpot prizes — at no extra cost.

Here’s how it works:

• ✅ During standard jackpots, the multiplier is fixed at 3x
• 🚀 During larger jackpots, it can climb as high as 10x
• 💸 Applies to all non-jackpot prize tiers, maximising your returns

Whether you’re one number away or matching a few lucky digits, this enhanced feature gives you bigger potential returns on every bet.

How Much Does it Cost to Bet from the UK?

At Lottoland, you can bet on Powerball and Mega Millions from the UK and take part in some of the biggest lottery jackpots in the world — often reaching over £1 billion. Unlike European lotteries such as EuroJackpot, which have capped prize limits, these US mega draws have no maximum jackpot, allowing them to break global records.

Because the potential payouts are so large, the price per line bet isn't fixed. As jackpots grow, so do our insurance costs, which is why the price may increase during periods of extreme jackpots. 

⚠️ Please note: Lottoland is not a lottery operator, and you are not purchasing an official lottery ticket. Instead, you’re placing a bet on the outcome of the draw.

I’ve Won a Prize – What Happens Next?

If you're a UK customer betting at Lottoland, the good news is: you’re already verified by default. For smaller prize wins, your payout will be automatically credited to your Lottoland account and then transferred to your UK bank account within a few business days — no paperwork needed.

For larger wins, such as a Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot, Lottoland may request a document scan to ensure that the winnings go to the correct person. If you’ve hit a major jackpot, rest assured — you’ll receive a personal phone call from our team to deliver the exciting news!

Lottoland guarantees a payout of all winnings with its unique insurance model, even the highest Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots. However, Lottoland replicates the pay-out structure of the official draws in the US and for this reason, the total prize is reduced by 38% to make allowances for the tax that the official winners in Tiers 1 to 3 would have to pay. Payment can be received as installments over 30 years or as a lump sum paid out at 60% of the total value of the annuity amount.

FAQ : Powerball vs MegaMillions

Updated: 22nd April 2025