What are the biggest ever Mega Millions jackpots?
There have been five jackpots over a billion dollars with an incredible total being won in 2023. The final draw of the year is getting close.
In 2023, one very lucky Californian won the record Mega Millions prize of an estimated $1.55 billion - the largest in the lottery’s 27-year history.
The previous largest Mega Millions win was $1.53 billion - a jackpot scooped by a single player in South Carolina in October 2018. It was the first time since Mega Millions was established in 1996 that the jackpot had crossed the $1 billion mark. In all, the prize has now reached 10 figures on five occasions.
| Jackpot | Date won | Location | Number of winners |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.58 billion | 8 August 2023 | California | 1 |
| $1.53 billion | 23 October 2018 | South Carolina | 1 |
| $1.35 billion | 13 January 2023 | Maine | 1 |
| $1.34 billion | 29 July 2022 | Illinois | 1 |
| $1.05 billion | 22 January 2021 | Michigan | 1 |
How are Mega Millions payments distributed?
Winners have two options.
The first is to receive an annual payment over the course of 30 years.
The second is to receive a lump-sum payment shortly after winning. However, depending on which option one selects, the total disbursed will be impacted. Those who choose the 30-year option will be distributed a larger total, but the investment potential of the lump-sum option could lead a much larger total over the course of the following decade.
However, the final payout distributed to individuals has a lot to do with state taxes and rules in their state. For instance, according to liveabout.com, in Idaho, a lottery winner can expect to take home 78.53 percent of the advertised winnings, while in West Virginia the total is much lower, at 16.97 percent.
Many states tax lotteries at very high rates and use the money to fund public programs, like schools, infrastructure projects, and other social benefits that a large percentage of residents are able to take advantage of. The median amount distributed across states is a little under two-thirds, at 64 percent.
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