The Biggest MegaMillions Jackpots of All Time

Table of contents:

• WHAT IS MEGAMILLIONS?
• MEGAMILLIONS RECORD JACKPOT WINNER
• HOW TO BET ON MEGAMILLIONS FROM IRELAND
• HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BET ON MEGAMILLIONS FROM IRELAND?
• I WON A MEGAMILLIONS PRIZE - WHAT NOW?

WHAT IS MEGAMILLIONS?

The popular US lottery MegaMillions is the long-time rival of that other giant American lottery: PowerBall. Although the latter holds the world record for the highest jackpot ever, the MegaMillions lottery is hot on its heels. In the land of opportunity, no jackpot seems too big to be beaten!

The sum of $1.537 billion ( ₹12,050 Crores) that was won on October 23rd, 2018, is not only the largest prize ever in MegaMillions history, but also the largest amount any individual has ever won. We don't know the identity of the winner or even their gender, however, as the lucky person from South Carolina opted to remain anonymous.

MEGAMILLIONS RECORD JACKPOT WINNER

As previously mentioned, the world record for the biggest lotto jackpot of all time is still held by PowerBall. However, the staggering $1.586 billion (₹12,450 Crores) waiting to be picked up in January 2016 was split between three lucky winners rather than just one.

That's why MegaMillions set the record for the biggest single win in the lottery history when that $1.537 billion (₹12,050 Crores) went to a single South Carolina winner. This record jackpot tops the list of the top 5 MegaMillions highest winnings.

MegaMillions winners have the option to claim their prize as a lump sum or as an annuity. If they opt for the lump sum, the cash value of the jackpot is reduced. Furthermore, US lotteries are subject to up to 37% federal tax and, depending on the state, futher state tax. 

The below table, showing the top 5 MegaMillions jackpots, shows the full jackpot amount, the cash vale, the prize per ticket (some jackpots have been won by more than one ticket) and the date of the win.

Let's take a closer look at those monster jackpot wins:

1st Biggest Jackpot: $1.537 Million (₹12,050 Crores)

On October 23rd, 2018, the highest jackpot in the history of Mega Millions was won. The unbelievable $1.537 billion (₹12,050 Crores) jackpot also made a South Carolina resident the biggest single lotto winner ever.

The lucky individual, who took more than four months to claim their winnings and whose anonymity is guaranteed by South Carolina state law, chose the cash option as the payout method, giving the winner a total of $877 million (₹6,800 Crores) after taxes were deducted. 

The winner is said to have allowed another person to go ahead in the queue to buy a ticket out of courtesy and of course, the next randomly selected ticket turned out to be the golden one. How long the new multimillionaire will be able to hold onto his or her record-holding title remains to be seen.

2nd Biggest Jackpot: $1.337 Million (₹10,490 Crores)

There was a buzz amongst lottery enthusiasts across the world when the MegaMillions jackpot continued to roll over until it reached a mind-blowing $1.337 billion (₹10,490 Crores) on the 29th of July, 2022. 

This second biggest MegaMillions jackpot was not far off the record set in 2018.

The jackpot was won by a single ticket purchased at a Speedway in Des Plaines, Illinois. 

In September 2022, two people came forward to claim the prize, choosing to remain anonymous. In Illinois, winners of prizes over $250,000 (₹1.9 Crores) can request that their name and hometown by kept confidential. 

The winners opted to claim the prize as a lump sum payment, following the expert advise of professional legal and financial advisors.

3rd Biggest Jackpot: $1.050 Million (₹8,200 Crores)

On the 22^nd of January 2021, MegaMillions hit the headlines again thanks to a ticket sold in Michigan, with a prize of $1.050 million (₹8,200 Crores). 

This jackpot had rolled over since September 2020 and was eventually won by a single ticket which was shared between 4 members of a lottery syndicate called the Wolverine FLL Club.

The names of the members, from suburban Detroit, were not released by their attorney, Kurt Panouses, released a statement, affirming: "This kind of money will impact the families of our club members for generations to come. We plan to staty humble and pay it forward through charitable giving in southeast Michigan". 

4th Biggest Jackpot: $656 Million (₹5,150 Crores)

The next on our list of the biggest jackpots was also shared between a group of people but the difference this time was that there were three winning tickets. 

On March 30th, 2012, a then-record jackpot of $656 million (₹5,1150 Crores) was on offer, triggering a veritable lottery fever during which more than a billion MegaMillions tickets were sold!

The first winners to come forward were three friends, "The Three Amigos" from Milford, Maryland. The second lucky winner to claim a share of the mega jackpot was a person from Kansas who was able to chose to remain anonymous. Finally, a couple, Merle & Patricia Butler of Red Bud, Georgia, were the last of the new multi-millionaires to pick up their cheque.

5th Biggest Jackpot: $648 Million (₹5,090 Crores)

On December 17, 2013, two lottery ticket holders made the same lucky lottery number selection and shared the MegaMillions jackpot of $648 million (₹5,090 Crores).

Ira Curry from Stone Mountain,Georgia, who chose family birthdays along with Lucky Number 7 on her docket, claimed her share of the million-pound the very next day. The other winner, Steve Tran from Northern California, did not get in touch until after two weeks because he had completely forgotten about his ticket. 

Fortunately, he remembered before too long, but there have been many cases of jackpot winners who never collected their winnings. Of course, this is never a concern with Lottoland*, as winners are notified by email and, in the case of big jackpot winners, by telephone as well. 

HOW TO BET ON MEGAMILLIONS FROM INDIA

With Lottoland you also have the opportunity to bet on MegaMillions from India. If you're wondering how to play MegaMillions? It's simple! Just pick 5 out of 70 numbers and one additional number, the so-called MegaBall, which must be between 1 and 25. You hit the jackpot if you select all 5 numbers and the MegaBall correctly.

In addition to winning the top jackpot, there are eight other prize tiers in which extremely attractive sums are waiting for the lucky winners.

The MegaPlier option adds extra excitement, allowing you to multiply your winnings. Selecting this option means you could end up winning as much as 5 times your winnings (excluding the jackpot - that would be a little too much!). A number (two, three, four, or five) is drawn in addition to the regular MegaMillions numbers, and all prizes from levels 2 to 9 are multiplied by the number which is drawn. Once you select your number, just tick the MegaPlier box for just an additional ₹80. 

The MegaMillions draw is held every Tuesday and Friday at 23:00 Eastern Time, which is Wednesday and Friday at 08.30 Indian Standard Time.

Here's a brief summary of everything you need to know about the MegaMillions:

*Draw Time is Wednesday and Friday at 08.30 Indian Standard Time.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BET ON MEGAMILLIONS FROM INDIA?

As we have already seen, the MegaMillions jackpots can reach enormous amounts. For this reason, the price per line bet is not fixed as it is for other international lotteries like EuroMillions or EuroJackpot at Lottoland. The reason for this is that the upper limit of top jackpots in European multi-state lotteries is limited.

With the big American lotteries, like MegaMillions and PowerBall, there is no limit - which is why those two are battling it out for the world record jackpot! With such mega-jackpots on offer, our insurance costs increase, which is why we also need to increase the price for a line bet when the jackpots get extra-massive.

I WON BETTING ON MEGAMILLIONS – WHAT NOW?

If you're fortunate enough to win a prize on MegaMillions, your winnings will automatically be credited** to your Lottoland account and you will receive an e-mail notification to inform you of your win. To successfully payout all winnings, your identity must first be confirmed by means of ID and proof of address***.Once the simple verification process is complete, you can request your payout, and your money will arrive in your bank account within a few business days. Of course, if you're lucky enough to hit the MegaMillions jackpot, we'll contact you by phone.

Lottoland guarantees a payout of all winnings with its unique insurance model - even the highest MegaMillions jackpots! 

Try your luck from India and place a bet on the record-breaking MegaMillions lottery with Lottoland!

*Note: With Lottoland, you are betting on the outcome of the MegaMillions draw and not purchasing a ticket for the official lottery.
**Note: US lotteries are subject to a federal tax of up to 37% plus further state taxes, depending on the state. This means that there are significant reductions between the jackpot amount and the final payout amount. If you win the MegaMillions jackpot with Lottoland by betting on the outcome, Lottoland will not deduct any tax, but will match the final payout that the winner of the official lottery would take home after tax. 

Last updated: 22nd September 2022

*** At times, we may request further documents. Please refer to Section 1.3 of our India Terms & Conditions.