5 International Lottery Jackpots That Reached and Breached the $1Bn Mark

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Some jackpots just drop and send every damn lottery player into a tizzy. Millions? Nah, we’re talking billions of dollars here!

Only two international lotteries, the US Powerball and the US Mega Millions have seen jackpots that not only reached, but breached the insane $1 billion mark. Let’s talk about the 5 instances when it happened.

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$2.040 Billion in US Powerball (November 7, 2022)

A record-breaking $2.040 Billion Powerball jackpot dropped on November 7, 2022, and went on to become the biggest-ever jackpot prize in the history of lotteries. It is also the biggest-ever jackpot for a single ticket holder, which was scooped by a player from California.

The drawing was delayed due to technical difficulties, but the growing jackpot size did attract a lot of participants who jumped in to buy tickets. This is the first time that an international lottery jackpot has breached not only the $1 Billion mark but also the $2 Billion mark, thus making history!

The winning ticket was sold at Joe's Service Center in Altadena, California. Joe Chahayed, the owner, will receive a bonus prize from Powerball of $1 Million. The winner, however, has chosen to remain anonymous and selected a lump sum payout, the value of which is $997.6 Million.

Check out: Where to play US Powerball online

$1.586 Billion in US Powerball (January 13, 2016)

The $1.586 Billion Powerball jackpot that dropped on January 13, 2016, is the second biggest prize ever paid out in lotteries. It was claimed for three winning tickets.

The money was split among three winning couples from three different states – John and Lisa Robinson from Tennessee, Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Florida, and Marvin and Mae Acosta from California.

Each couple was offered the option to claim roughly $533 million as an annuity before taxes or $327.8 million as a lump-sum payment.

Of them, the Robinsons and Kaltschmidt opted to take the lump sum because, hey, who knows what will happen tomorrow, right? Meanwhile, after remaining anonymous for months, the Acostas eventually released a statement rejoicing about their windfall.

$1.537 Billion in US Mega Millions (October 23, 2018)

This is the third biggest lottery jackpot to drop and the second biggest prize to be paid out to a single winner. Yes, the entire $1.537 Billion went to a South Carolina winner who claimed it anonymously. Big wins must be kept a secret, we get it.

While the Mega Millions draw was conducted way back in October 2018, it wasn’t until March 2019, just a month ahead of the deadline, that the prize was claimed.

Although we’ll never know who won all that crazy money, we do know that the winner opted for a lump sum payment. After federal and state taxes, he or she finally walked away with $491.7 million. A lot less, but still crazy money!

Check out: Where to play US Mega Millions online

$1.337 Billion in US Mega Millions (July 29, 2022)

Beating all odds, a single Mega Millions ticket bought in Illinois scooped a staggering $1.337 Billion jackpot that had been brewing for quite a while; since April 15 to be precise.

This is the fourth biggest lottery jackpot in the world and the hunt for the winner is still on. If payment in an annuity is chosen, the amount will be paid annually over a span of 29 years. We believe the winner will opt for a lump sum payment.

Watch this space for updated information.

$1.05 billion in US Mega Millions (January 22, 2021)

This fifth biggest lottery jackpot to drop comes once again from Mega Millions! It was claimed anonymously by a four-member Oakland County lottery club called Wolverine FLL Club.

Although the draw took place in January 2021, the club representative, who is a lawyer by profession, claimed the prize on their behalf only in March 2021.

The Wolverine FLL Club opted for a one-time lump sum payment and walked away with roughly $557 million after state and federal tax deductions.

Kroger, from where the ticket was purchased, received a $50,000 bonus commission, which it donated to the Food Bank Council of Michigan.

As patrons of the lottery, we hope to witness more such record wins in near future…in trillions, quadrillions, quintillions, and more! Let the sky be the limit!

Also read: Which is the biggest lottery in the world