Over the recent years, significant transformations have unfolded in the realm of lotteries,

and the proliferation of multi-state Mega Millions and Powerball lottery jackpots can be attributed to their soaring ticket prices.

During this period, there have been a total of eight jackpots exceeding the $1 billion mark in the United States since 2016, with a majority of them, precisely five, emerging within the last two years.

Amidst this winning spree, two distinct lottery tickets struck gold, fetching jackpots worth billions: one ticket in California on July 19th, securing a staggering $1.08 billion Powerball win, and another ticket in Florida on August 9th, claiming the colossal $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot.

Monday marked a momentous occasion as the Powerball jackpot skyrocketed to a remarkable $1.2 billion, owing to the absence of a fortunate winner for the coveted top prize. Now, let’s delve into the list of the ten biggest American jackpots so far:

$2.04 Billion
The largest lottery jackpot to date was won in the Powerball drawing on November 7, 2022. The ticket was sold in Altadena, California, at a service center. On February 14th, California Lottery officials revealed the winner’s name as Edwin Castro, but they did not release more information about him upon his request.

$1.59 Billion
The second-largest jackpot, also from Powerball, was split three ways. The winning numbers were drawn on January 13, 2016, with winning tickets sold in Chino Hills, California; Munford, Tennessee, just north of Memphis; and Melbourne Beach, Florida, on the Atlantic coast.

“I believe we can comfortably make a life with $528 million, wouldn’t you agree?” said California Lottery spokesman Russ Lopez at the time.

$1.58 Billion
This Mega Millions jackpot was won on August 9th. The winner chose a lump-sum cash payment, which will be approximately $783.3 million. The company stated that the winning ticket was among seven million-dollar winners sold, including two tickets worth $2 million each sold in Florida and North Carolina.

$1.54 Billion
A single ticket sold in Simpsonville, South Carolina, won the Mega Millions jackpot on October 23, 2018. The prize wasn’t claimed until March of the following year when an anonymous winner came forward through a lawyer, opting for a lump-sum payment of $877,784,124 instead of the 30-year annuity.

$1.35 Billion
A ticket sold in Maine, Lebanon, won an estimated $1.35 billion in the Mega Millions drawing on January 13. Officials said a winner came forward a month later but chose to remain anonymous. The person collected the prize as a $723,564,144 lump-sum cash payment through a limited liability company before taxes.

According to lottery authorities, a triumphant individual stepped forward on September 25th, yet their identity remained undisclosed, in compliance with state regulations permitting winners to maintain their anonymity for a span of 90 days.

$1.34 Billion
On July 29, 2022, the winning Mega Millions ticket was sold in Des Plaines, Among the states, Illinois stands out as one that permits lottery champions to maintain the confidentiality
Involving their personal data, covering both their name and residential information.

$1.2 Billion
This is the current Powerball jackpot, which no one has won since July 19 – it’s entry number 8 on this list. Instead of annual payments, taking the cash option before taxes would be worth $551.7 million. The next drawing will be on Wednesday night.

$1.08 Billion

“Following an uninterrupted three-month period without a victor, a sole ticket purchased in Los Angeles claimed the Powerball jackpot on the 19th of July.” The winner has not come forward. In a span of just eight months, Los Angeles County witnessed its second occurrence of a victorious ticket being purchased for a Powerball jackpot surpassing the remarkable sum of $1 billion

According to Powerball, the winner can choose a lump-sum payment option, which would be about $558.1 million before taxes.

$1.05 Billion
A group identified as the Wolverine FFL Club of Oakland County won over 1 billion dollars in the Mega Millions drawing on January 22, 2021, after buying a ticket in Novi, Michigan.

$768.4 Million
Manuel Franco of Wisconsin won $768.4 million in the Powerball drawing on March 27, 2019. This amount was enough for within a mere 48 hours of his win, Mr. Franco decided to resign from his job.

There is no law in Wisconsin that protects the identity of lottery winners, meaning Mr. Franco had to come forward publicly.