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
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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*
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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.
Yep, those low numbers last night were almost a giveaway. I myself was just a 5th number and the ball away from being that guy, I'm shocked they weren't multiple winners to be honest.
Only 1 winner that's bull<snip>. Ppl shouldn't play anymore. I bet it's going to be an old white men or women. I'm going to buy only a single ticket only if it's goes past hundreds million
2 second place winners in TX (not me unfortunately)with 5 of 5 (no power play)
Snyder,TX - quick pick
Spring, TX - numbers chosen
Congrats to all that played and won
Cry me a river!
Now Facebook said Mass. lottery screwed up. Winning ticket sold in Chicopee, MA (Western Massachusetts) and not where it was originally said to have been won. The 'wrong' store did sell a million dollar ticket though. I understand the top payout for selling the winning ticket is $50K.
I hope that it is one person!
That will drive the Greed of Envy Crowd crazy!
Interesting about last night. When I looked at the pyramid I do I was looking at the 23. I knew two singles were going to come out but back to back a 6 and 7 . if you take 2x3=6 sometimes I don't think that way and it happens. Well glad it's over now. That is near the basketball HOF if not mistaken. My relatives gpas family lived in Fall river mass.
I never would have thought New England. It's been years since I visited Fall River since I had aunts and uncles, cousins who lived up there. The draw numbers seemed likely. Glad it's over with. Now maybe I can start figuring out megamillions.
Hearse,,,,,,,,,,, there is another option, spread Preparation H on them so they become less irritating and go away
Seriously, no one cares if you don't play or only buy one ticket, or whatever.
What's with all the whining? It's a lottery game. Not life and death.
Now that's funny!!!!
And true!
Amen!
Todd,
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the first time the Virgin Islands ever won a $2 million prize. I know Puerto Rico has done it before in that neck of the woods.
Massachusetts lottery on-line now with a live stream conference apologizing for their mistake. It is Chicopee. I could swear he just said they'll announce the winner @ 1300 today...big mistake on the winner's part I feel.
I will gladly take the non greedy jackpot when the least likely people will be interested in playing :-)
I agree, which is why I mentioned it last night. The USVI has fewer players than any other jurisdiction (even D.C.), so this is really great for them!
Thanks Todd, thought so.
Massachusetts Lottery will announce the winner shortly. I feel this is a big mistake. They are live streaming.
Was the ticket a quick pick?
Wow, the winner is already at lottery headquarters. A woman who showed up alone.
A Massachusetts resident, regular, hard-working lottery player, who "has a good story to tell". They have already validated the winning ticket. Sounds like we won't have to wait long for details!
REALLY????..... Already ?
Personally, I was considering doing the same thing.
Can watch here https://www.facebook.com/KUSINews/videos/10155407109851068/
Well MAVIS, glad you told your employer you won't be coming back. I wish you the very best in your choices. Be careful and enjoy for decades to come
It appears that the Massachusetts Lottery has Financial Help for Women. Mavis can hire anybody she wants to. Congratulations to Mavis.
They made her out to be some weird cat lady type but she is perfectly normal -- tho a whole lot richer.
"non greedy" ROTFLMAO!
We all dance to the beat of a different drum. Her name is Mavis Wancyzk{?} and she appears to have her "act" together. I think she said that she picked her own numbers. Congratulations and good luck to her.
It looks like she self-picked her numbers and they were all under 31, which people say not to do. Congrats to her.
She did say she picked her own numbers!! And she obviously likes gum, which for me made it hard to watch. But, congratulations enjoy your enormous windfall!
I predict broke or dead in less than 10 years. She should have remained anonymous for as long as possible. No way she got trusts, and LLC's setup this fast before claiming. She should have lawyered up, met with tax pros and financial planners. Now every Tom, Dick and Harry will come knocking at her door to beg for cash or try to steal it from her.
Trusts and LLC's can be set up at anytime!
In PA you can claim with a Trust and they will reveal who owns the trust!
Celebs are always using trusts to buy property. However, it is not that difficult to figure out who's behind the trust.
Sure they'll reveal her name. However, she did not have the time to make a plan for disappearing. She won't get the money today. It takes at least a week for them to do a background check and wire transfer. What will she do till then?
My plan, claim the ticket hire a lawyer. Have him book a hotel room for me overseas where no one knows me and hideout. Change my name, buy property through a foreign corp. and live someplace where no on knows me. Only the closest family members, i.e. immediate family will know. The con artists will after her so fast ?? she won't even realize it.
We all know how big winners lost their money and how a few lost their lives.
As far as I'm concerned, as long as you know how to say NO!!, watch those closest to you
(you never know who might break bad on ya) you should be fine!
All this mission impossible, undercover, agent 007 junk that people say they will do is just plan silly.
It's not that serious!
As long as Mavis stays away from the crack & strip bars, she'll be fine.
I am also quite experienced at saying no. Why I would like to immediately leave town is because of the media. I wouldnt want them coming around, publishing photos of where I live, interviewing my neighbors, etx. They have done this in the past. They really did a number on that elderly Florida woman who won a few years ago.
Redd55, Abraham Lee Shakespeare had beggars around him and around the clock. They would not take NO for an answer. They kept on coming at him.
Shakespeare made mistakes like giving his money away to anybody who asked him. May he RIP.
I agree with you when you mentioned Gloria C. MacKenzie. She did not attend the press conference in Florida. Tallahassee maybe? She has learned from other winner's mistakes and kept her privacy. I think that she is third in the top 25 prize list.
I would like to welcome Mavis L. Wancysk to the millionaire club and the world of lottery winners. May she experience good fortune wherever she is.
no birthdays and lucky numbers
I think she made the first worst decision of her life. She should have contacted an attorney and an accountant. She should have moved and changed her telephone numbers and she should have used common sense. Tonight she will have people on her stoop, ringing her bell and friends and family she never knew she had calling her. I see nothing but bad and I feel bad for her because really started off badly. I hope she really leaqrns fast or she is going to be very unhappy.
My lord! People can make decisions affecting their own live better than strangers. Why assume she is even returning home? She may go stay with relatives or go on vacation. Why assume one must consult an atty or financial adviser before submitting a claim? Because of her husband's death, most likely she already has an atty she has a relationship with. He can handle or refer her to an estate atty. She can find or they can refer her to a financial manager. And as the crazy state lotto lady said, we have financial advisers ready to help winners. Mavis is doing just fine.
I kinda laugh at all the "experts" who, uhhh, never won a jackpot. But they know all the right things to do before claiming.
One person even said she would be dead or broke in 10 years. Really?????
Mass Side Bar for Consideration-
Massachusetts has more repeat lottery winners than any other state