Los mayores ganadores de lotería de EE. UU. de todos los tiempos
From the $2.04 billion Powerball winner to the biggest Mega Millions jackpots ever claimed — the full stories of America's largest lottery winners and what they actually took home.
- September 4, 2026
- 10 min read
- #Powerball
- #Mega Millions
- #Récords de Jackpot
The largest US lottery jackpot ever won was $2.04 billion — a single Powerball ticket sold in California on November 7, 2022. Winner Edwin Castro took the lump sum of ~$997.6 million and, because California does not tax lottery winnings, kept approximately $628 million after federal tax.
Lottery jackpots in the United States have grown to staggering sizes over the past decade. Record-low interest rates, growing ticket populations, and rollover mechanics that push unclaimed prizes ever higher have produced eight jackpots above $1 billion since 2016 — seven of them since 2022 alone.
This guide covers every jackpot in the all-time top 10, the story behind the $2.04 billion winner, how much winners actually keep after taxes, and what most winners do with the money.
Top 10 Biggest US Lottery Jackpots of All Time
All 10 entries come from either Powerball or Mega Millions. No other US lottery game has produced a jackpot above $600 million.
| # | Amount | Game | Date | Winner(s) | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | $2.04B | Powerball | Nov 7, 2022 | 1 winner | CA |
| 🥈 | $1.765B | Powerball | Oct 11, 2023 | 1 winner | CA |
| 🥉 | $1.602B | Mega Millions | Aug 8, 2023 | 1 winner | FL |
| #4 | $1.537B | Mega Millions | Oct 23, 2018 | 1 winner | SC |
| #5 | $1.35B | Mega Millions | Jan 13, 2023 | 1 winner | ME |
| #6 | $1.337B | Mega Millions | Jul 29, 2022 | 1 winner | IL |
| #7 | $1.326B | Mega Millions | Mar 26, 2024 | 1 winner | NJ |
| #8 | $842.4M | Powerball | Jan 1, 2024 | 1 winner | MI |
| #9 | $754.6M | Powerball | Feb 6, 2023 | 1 winner | WA |
| #10 | $730M | Powerball | Jan 20, 2021 | 1 winner | MD |
The $2.04 Billion Winner: Edwin Castro
On November 7, 2022, a single Powerball ticket sold in Altadena, California matched all five white balls plus the Powerball, winning a jackpot that had rolled over 40 consecutive drawings. The winner was later identified as Edwin Castro, a California resident who became the largest lottery prize winner in world history.
California is one of eight states with 0% lottery tax — a significant advantage worth ~$50M vs. an average-tax state.
Castro chose the lump sum — the standard decision for lottery winners who can invest the funds — and benefited enormously from California 's policy of not taxing state lottery winnings. Combined with the federal rate of 37%, he kept approximately 63 cents per dollar of the cash value — far better than winners in high-tax states like New York (10.9%) or New Jersey (10.75%).
How Much Do Winners Actually Keep?
The advertised jackpot is the annuity value — 30 annual payments over 29 years. The lump sum cash option is approximately 60% of that figure. Then taxes take another large bite. Here is the math on a $1 billion jackpot:
State tax rates vary. Average state rate ~5%. See our full lottery tax guide for every state's rate.
The Biggest Multi-Winner Jackpot Split
The largest jackpot ever split among multiple winners was the $1.586 billion Powerball drawing on January 13, 2016. Three separate tickets matched the winning numbers, purchased in Florida, Tennessee, and California.
Key insight: When multiple tickets match the jackpot, the advertised amount is divided equally regardless of how many tickets are sold. Buying more tickets does not change the split — only whether you matched the numbers does.
What Winners Do With the Money
Lottery researchers and attorneys who handle jackpot claims report consistent patterns across major winners.
Track the Next Record Jackpot on Lottorios
Every record jackpot started as a normal $20M drawing that nobody won. Lottorios tracks live jackpot levels for Powerball, Mega Millions, and international games in real time, so you always know exactly where each jackpot stands right now.
For Powerball, see live Powerball statistics — including jackpot history, frequency analysis, and draw results. And if you win, be sure to read our guide on annuity vs lump sum before you claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Watch the Next Record Jackpot Build on Lottorios
Lottorios tracks live Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot levels in real time — so you know exactly when the jackpot reaches historic territory.