These Are The 5 Biggest Lottery Jackpots In American History

The American Dream usually requires hard work and determination, though, for a few number of lucky lottery winners, money comes a little bit easier. On Tuesday, July 24^th, a $522 million Mega Millions ticket was sold at Ernie’s Liquors located in San Jose, California making an unknown someone that much richer. Despite being a huge prize, it was interestingly not even the largest jackpot in history, but rather the 11th biggest. Have we piqued your curiosity on the actual biggest jackpots in history? These are the top 5!

1. January of 2016: $1.6 billion from Powerball

Three people won the biggest jackpot in history splitting it three ways. John and Lisa Robinson, of Munford, Tennessee were awarded $528.8 million and accepted one immediate payment of $327.8 million, according to CNBC. They even appeared on NBC’s “Today” show before cashing in their winning prize. After speaking in many interviews, they claimed they would not drastically change their lifestyle, however, they bought a $6.2 million mansion. Can you blame them? 70-year-old Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida, also accepted a one-time payment of $327.8 million. Smith got lucky throughout the years buying tickets with the same six winning numbers that got her the largest jackpot in history. It took more than six months for the final winners to present themselves after the drawing. Mae and Marvin Acosta claimed their prize but did not speak to the media like the other winners.

2. August of 2017: $758.7 million from Powerball

In Watertown, Massachusetts, this jackpot was sold to one lucky winner: Mavis L. Wanczyk. This lotto winner took the lump sum of $480.5 million before taxes and quickly called up her employer at Mercy Medical Center and politely quit after a long 32 years.

3. March 2012: $656 million from Mega Millions

In March 2012, this jackpot had three winning tickets. Mere and Patricia Butler, a retired couple from Illinois, claimed an oversized check of one third of the jackpot: $218.6 million. This is considered the largest prize in Illinois lottery history. Three friends in Maryland divided one winning ticket and nicknamed themselves the “Three Amigos.” The third winner that had acquired the last ticket in Kansas is still unknown to this day.

4. December of 2013: $648 million from Mega Millions

This time, only two winners split the jackpot: Ira Curry and Steve Tran. Curry, from Atlanta, bought only one ticket using numbers that combined her family’s birthdays. Tran, on the other hand, had a pile of tickets sitting in his house. According to NBC Bay Area, Tran rang up his boss to give him some bad news, “I’m really sorry, boss. I hit the jackpot. I don’t think I’m going to come in today, tomorrow or ever.” Both received a one-time payment of $173 million.

5. May of 2013: $590.5 million from Powerball

Last but not least, the fifth largest jackpot in history was a $590.5 million Powerball. This is one of the biggest single lottery jackpots and it went to an 84-year-old woman from Zephyrhills, Florida. Gloria Mackenzie bought her ticket in May of 2013 from a Publix supermarket where a customer allowed her to go first, according to NBC Connecticut. She received an immediate payment of $370 million before taxes. Feature Image: Pixabay