Largest lottery jackpot ever awarded to a single winner
By Todd Northrop
A single winning Powerball lottery ticket matching all six numbers was sold in Massachusetts and will claim a $758.7 million jackpot — the largest ever awarded to a single winning ticket.
If the winner chooses the lump-sum cash value, they will receive a one-time cash payment of $480.5 million. That's nearly a half-billion dollars in cash, minus taxes of course.
The Jackpot Analysis page at USA Mega shows the initial taxes that will be withheld on the jackpot.
The massive $758.7 million grand prize is the 2nd-largest lottery jackpot in world history, and the cash value is also the second-largest ever. (See the top 25 annuity and cash value lottery jackpots below.)
The winning ticket was sold at Pride Station & Store, located at 27 Montgomery Street in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The store will receive a $50,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
The Handy Variety store mentioned in a previous version of this article was mistakenly identified by the Massachusetts Lottery as the location of the jackpot-winning ticket, but was actually the location of a $1 million winner.
This is the 4th time a Powerball jackpot-winning ticket has been sold in Massachusetts. The last one was in 2013, and there were winners in 2012 and 2011.
The lucky numbers drawn Wednesday night were 6, 7, 16, 23, and 26, with Powerball number 4. The Power Play number was 4.
In addition to the Massachusetts jackpot winner, a whopping 40 tickets came within one number of sharing the prize, missing only the Powerball. Those 40 lucky players who matched the first 5 numbers were: 3 from California, 1 from Colorado, 2 from Connecticut (1 with Power Play), 3 from Florida, 2 from Georgia, 1 from Illinois (with Power Play), 1 from Louisiana (with Power Play), 1 from Maine, 1 from Maryland, 2 from Massachusetts, 3 from Michigan, 1 from Minnesota, 2 from New Jersey, 2 from New Mexico (1 with Power Play), 3 from New York, 1 from North Carolina, 1 from Ohio, 5 from Pennsylvania (1 with Power Play), 1 from South Carolina, 2 from Texas, 1 from U.S. Virgin Islands (with Power Play), and 1 from Virginia.
Second-prize tickets, except those purchased in California, win a prize of $1 million, which is doubled to $2 million if the ticket-holder also purchased the Power Play option. The California second-prize tickets will each receive $818,240 this drawing, and Power Play is not available in that state.
By law, California awards all prizes on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning the prizes will change each drawing based on the number of tickets sold and the number of tickets that won at each prize level. This accounts for the discrepancy between the second-prize amounts for California and the rest of the states.
393 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000. Of those tickets, 62 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $200,000, and 50 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $12,568 this drawing.
Powerball is played in 44 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Powerball jackpot resets to $40,000,000 for the next drawing to be held Sat., Aug. 26.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Wednesday's Powerball jackpot finished its run as the 2nd-largest lottery jackpot of all time — one position higher than when the initial estimate of $650 million was announced early Sunday morning.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 - Massachusetts
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $636 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 - Indiana
- Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $447.8 million, Jun. 10, 2017 - California
- Powerball: $435.3 million, Feb. 22, 2017 - Indiana
- Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Powerball: $420.9 million, Nov. 26, 2016 - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $393 million, Aug. 11, 2017 - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $390 million, Mar. 6, 2007 - Georgia, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $380 million, Jan. 4, 2011 - Idaho, Washington
- Powerball: $365 million, Feb. 18, 2006 - Nebraska
- The Big Game: $363 million, May 9, 2000 - Illinois, Michigan
- Powerball: $340 million, Oct. 19, 2005 - Oregon
- Powerball: $338.3 million, Mar. 23, 2013 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $337 million, Aug. 15, 2012 - Michigan
The number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 17
- Mega Millions: 7
- The Big Game: 1
The Big Game is the original name of Mega Millions, from the game's first drawing on Sep. 6, 1996 through May 14, 2002. The name was changed to Mega Millions starting with the May 17, 2002 drawing.
Top 25 cash value jackpots
Since many lottery winners collect their winnings in cash, the lump-sum payout is an important measure of what a winning ticket could be worth. Wednesday's Powerball jackpot ranked as the 2nd-largest lump-sum cash value jackpot in history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Mega Millions: $378 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($536 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $336.8 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $279.1 million cash, Jun. 10, 2017 ($447.8 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $263.5 million cash, Feb. 22, 2017 ($435.3 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $254.7 million cash, Nov. 26, 2016 ($420.9 million annuity) - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $246.5 million cash, Aug. 11, 2017 ($393 million annuity) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $240 million cash, Jan. 4, 2011 ($380 million annuity) - Idaho, Washington
- Mega Millions: $233.1 million cash, Mar. 6, 2007 ($390 million annuity) - Georgia, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $230.9 million cash, Mar. 18, 2014 ($414 million annuity) - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $227.8 million cash, Feb. 19, 2014 ($425.3 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
- Powerball: $223.3 million cash, Sep. 18, 2013 ($399.4 million annuity) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
- Powerball: $211 million cash, Mar. 23, 2013 ($338.3 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $210 million cash, Feb. 11, 2012 ($336.4 million annuity) - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $202.9 million cash, Mar. 25, 2011 ($319 million annuity) - New York
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 16
- Mega Millions: 9
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
Congratulations to the winner in Massachusetts!! You are in the history books now. Will we see you claim soon?
For the winner's sake, I hope they lawyer up and get all their ducks in a row before they claim. A hardy congrats and best wishes to whomever they are.
I'll take $15 million post-tax and the relative obscurity that comes with it!
Good for the winner in Mass.
He or she was wicked lucky!
OldHippie, Peace! Are you suggesting that the winner or winners place the ticket in a safe place like a home safe, safety deposit box, or somewhere else?
I do think that lawyers and attorneys will be willing to work with this winner and wait to be paid later. Of course, the winner could get a loan.
They will now need a lot of umbrella insurance. CHUBB insurance agency and Lloyds of London come to mind.
If they are new millionaires than they need a new mindset. Now they can afford all the professional help they want or need.
Congratulations to the winner
enjoy
lawyer and financial advisor
I kind of feel bad for this person (if it's one) for all the attention they're about to get, but not really.
Congratulations to the winner or winners
According to the Powerball website, there were $2 million winners in Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There were $1 million winners in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
Intrigued now to hear the winners story! Congrats!
Most delighted in so many states garnering million dollar winners!
I was just thinking of all the horror stories I've heard about in the past about good, but naive and unsophisticated folks winning big jackpots and promptly getting fleeced, more often than not by family and so called "friends." Also, I think trusts and overseas bank accounts are more applicable here than Lloyds. Cheaper, and they will enable you to live large and increase your wealth at the same time. I'd be generous, but completely on my terms, and my trustee would be in complete control. That way, when the usual suspects come groveling, I could truthfully tell them that all my money is outside of my control, and to go see my trustee, who would tell them no. And yea, I'd do the safe deposit box thing, but I would also sign the ticket and run a few copies off of both the front and back a stash them in different places.
Congrats Watertown, Mass $758.7 M Winner
and all other winners nationwide
OK, ramp up for the next PB $40M JP opening bell on the morrow-
EddessaKnight with Good Night Wishes All
Calling KY lottery this morning to see if someone had won. listened to the #'s and thought someone hit it. Then a strange feeling came over me that it was my home state and it was when I got up and checked the computer! No, it wasn't me, Season ticket expired 20 AUG 17 and that is from Braintree, MA.
$17 is all this guy won.
Let's be honest, how many of us wanted a roll-over? My hand is raised.
OldHippie, I am here in CA and have downloaded and printed a lottery claim form. I will fill out both the ticket and the claim form and make copies of each.
Over seas, bank accounts are a good idea.
Would a trustee be in control of your trusts?
Do you know about DAPT's? Domestic Asset Protection Trusts?
Getting fleeced, by family and friends can be prevented by using a Trustee and also by saying NO. Write down a two line sentence and memorize it. It could say, "I cannot give you an answer now but here is my adviser's contact information. Call him or her and they will take care of you." Some will not even bother calling. If they repeat their request because they might now have heard you the first time just repeat your memorized reply. I am sure that your advisers could improve this tactic.
Now we start again with PB and MM. Good Luck to all!
music*
.
Exactamundo.
WOW! What a great Story with a WEALTH of Information, very well written Thank You, answered all but 1 question for the time being, perfect!!!!
40 2ND TIER WINNERS, w/some States that have not been listed in a very long time. It wasn't the same 3-4 States always Winning...
THANK YOU, I would too!
I can not raise my hand, I'm glad It's over and I was sure It wasn't going to roll over again, however I was hoping that BLEU had the Winning ticket! As usual I had the same big fat gOOse eggs I always get! :-((
How much $$$ does the Handy Variety Store receive for selling the big Winning ticket (that's the only thing they left out)
Funny that they already had the Store Name, Town and a Picture of It to Post??
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!!
Be Safe & Enjoy your new found Wealth....
Massachusetts in the past with winners will say how much the store/franchise gets for selling the winning ticket with the winner's picture. Folks there have been getting smarter having a Trustee get the money. I believe this time they will say how much the store receives prior to the winner coming forward. They haven't updated their website yet.
I hope the winner belongs to a group of say...10 or 20.
Yeah, an office pool or group of deserving folks.
Only downfall to my home state is they will only cut one check and up to players to take care of the taxes. Many states including adopted home of KY cut separate checks. One state I played in will cut up to 100 separate checks. I think that is Michigan. In any case this practice of one check really puts a burden on multiple players IMO.
I was hoping the same thing but they obviously have already checked the tape and know that It was someone that only bought a small amount of tickets?
Thanks as always Bleu knew you would know...
I know they usually list the amount the selling Store received, especially with this size Jackpot, that's why I didn't understand why they didn't this time?
I also agree with your other post on "Deserving People" Winning!
Winning ticket was sold in Chicopee Mass. Store named Pride Station and Store.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/08/winning_7587_million_powerball.html
Wednesday, Aug 23, 2017 6-7-16-23-26 PB: 4 POWER PLAY: 4
MO Power
Play Prizes
No big winners in Missouri last night.
Where is the winning ticket? Is the winner taking the cash option or the lump sum?
The article has been updated with the correct seller of the jackpot-winning ticket. The Mass. Lottery incorrectly identified the store last night, and issued a correction this morning.
I used to work in the offshore oil fields with a couple of guys from Chicopee. They were wild and crazy and free in a good way that you never see in these days and times. If Pat and Jack are still walking the face of this tired old earth, I am praying to God that one, or both of y'all have that winning ticket.
LOL
I would not procure a trustee.
Not me. I can never/would never trust no 1 with my money. I just couldn't, and would not do that. Only the folks.
Congratulations to the lucky "ONE" big winner.
I am happy for all the many who won 2 million and 1 million...I see 1 winner here,in North Carolina did so i am happy for the other winner's, just as much.
So many could've won the "big one." That would've been so much nicer,,but again, it didn't happen. So congrats in Massachusetts.
Congratulations to the lucky winner in Massachusetts. May the good Lord guide you in your decisions, and protect you from all the con artists and scammers.