News writer
The lottery has always been one of America's favorite “what if” games: that quick moment when you buy a ticket, spend the day dreaming, and imagine what you'd do if your numbers actually hit. And when someone does win big, it's never just about the money. It becomes part of the state's lore, one of those stories everyone talks about, where an ordinary day turns extraordinary in an instant.
With Missouri and Virginia both recently setting new jackpot records, now's the perfect time to look at how your state stacks up, and what those record wins say about the lottery's place in our shared imagination.
Ranking, remembering, and reframing
When we look at the biggest wins by state, what we're really looking at are three overlapping stories:
- The number itself: What's the largest jackpot in that state's history?
- The context: When did it happen, under what game, with what prize options, and how does that compare to national norms?
- The legacy: What does that win mean for future players, for media coverage, for the state lottery's identity?
In my opinion, for most states, the “number” is interesting, but the “context” and “legacy” are what truly enrich the narrative. To illustrate: a $100 million prize in a smaller population state might feel bigger, for that community, than a half-billion prize in a state where that level of win has happened several times.
Biggest jackpots by state
Time to take a deep dive into the biggest lottery jackpot each state has had over the years:
Alabama
No state lottery, but lawmakers are working on a bill to bring the lottery to the state of Alabama.
Alaska
No state lottery in Alaska.
Arizona - $473.1 million
For Arizona, the biggest prize ever won was $473.1 million. This was for a Powerball drawing on April 27, 2022, and a Gilbert couple later claimed the prize.
Arkansas - $177 million
The biggest lottery prize for the state of Arkansas is $177 million. This came from the Mega Millions game, in which the drawing took place on March 31, 2017.
California - $2.04 billion
Not only is it the biggest jackpot prize in California, but it's the biggest lottery jackpot ever for the entire country. In November 2022, Edwin Castro of Altadena won $2.04 billion playing Powerball.
Colorado - $133.2 million
Consistency paid off in Colorado, as 67-year-old Judy Finchum won $133.2 million playing Powerball in September 2017. For 30 years, Finchum played the exact numbers that won her the state's biggest lottery prize.
Connecticut - $254.2 million
The biggest lottery prize in Connecticut was won by three businessmen from Greenwich. They won $254.2 million playing Powerball in November 2011.
Delaware - $214.7 million
If you question lottery pools, this should shut down any doubts. A group of co-workers in Seaford won $214.7 million playing Powerball on October 12, 2004.
Florida - $1.6 billion
What's the biggest Mega Millions jackpot in history? It happens to be $1.6 billion, and it was won by one lucky ticket purchased in Neptune Beach in August 2023.
Georgia - $478.2 million
One of the more recent jackpot winners, but one Powerball ticket purchased in Buford matched all the winning numbers during the October 23, 2024, drawing to win the $478.2 million jackpot.
Hawaii
No state lottery in Hawaii.
Idaho - $220.3 million
From the Idaho Lottery, the biggest lottery prize came in May 2025. Brad Duke of Star won $220.3 million playing Powerball.
Illinois - $1.34 billion
Mega Millions for the win in Illinois, as the fourth-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history helped take the top spot in Illinois. Two friends bought the ticket together, then stuck to their promise and evenly split the winnings.
Indiana - $536 million
The biggest lottery jackpot for the Hoosier Lottery took place in July 2016. A family won $536 million playing Mega Millions, but they remained anonymous to keep their children safe.
Iowa - $343.9 million
A single mom in Dallas County won the biggest lottery prize in Iowa history back in October 2018. The Powerball jackpot was $687.8 million at the time, but she split the winnings with another winner in New York City, with each of them receiving $343.9 million before taxes.
Kansas - $218.6 million
In March 2012, the Mega Millions jackpot climbed to $656 million. Three lucky winners matched all the winning numbers to split the jackpot, with each of them getting $218.6 million. Besides the Kansas winners, the other states having a winner were Maryland and Illinois.
Kentucky - $167.3 million
The biggest lottery win in Kentucky took place in May 2025, but it brought some trouble for the lucky winner. The man won $167.3 million playing Powerball, but then found himself behind bars within 72 hours of the win.
Louisiana - $191.1 million
A Powerball win tops the list, this time in Louisiana. In October 2017, a three-member family partnership won $191.1 million, still holding strong as the state's biggest lottery win.
Maine - $1.35 billion
In January 2023, on a Friday the 13th of all days, one lucky ticketholder in Maine won the $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot, the largest in the state but the third-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history. It also happened to be the first Mega Millions jackpot winner for the state.
Maryland - $731.1 million
An anonymous group of winners nicknamed “The Power Pack” won the biggest lottery prize in Maryland's history. The group won the $731.1 million Powerball jackpot in January 2021, but waited four months before coming forward to claim their prize.
Massachusetts - $758.7 million
Setting records in Massachusetts for that time period. Mavis Wanczyk won the $758.7 million Powerball jackpot in August 2017. At that time, it was the largest payout ever awarded to a single ticket winner.
Michigan - $1.05 billion
A four-member lottery club in Oakland County claimed the biggest lottery prize in Michigan. The group won the Mega Millions jackpot in March 2021, which had climbed all the way up to $1.05 billion.
Minnesota - $228.9 million
The only way this Minnesota couple was going to be able to retire was if they won the lottery. In August 2011, they won $228.9 million thanks to a Quick Pick ticket while playing Powerball. The couple retired shortly after claiming their prize.
Mississippi - $10 million
Lottery in Mississippi debuted in 2019, with the first draw game taking place in 2020. Needless to say, it hasn't been around much, but they've still managed to win $10 million with Powerball's Double Play. The win took place in February 2025.
Missouri - $893.5 million
Another recent win makes the biggest jackpot list, this time out of Missouri. The Powerball jackpot had climbed to $1.79 billion before two lucky tickets matched all of the winning numbers to split the jackpot. One of those tickets was purchased in Missouri, with the winner getting $893.5 million.
Montana - $48.5 million
An almost missed opportunity in Montana, as co-workers in Helena tore up their June 2010 Powerball ticket. One of the co-workers thought they had lost after looking at the wrong numbers, so she ripped it up and threw it away. However, they pieced it back together and determined they had a winning ticket, splitting the $96.9 million jackpot that night with a ticket from Ohio.
Nebraska - $365 million
In February 2006, eight co-workers from a meat processing plant claimed the biggest lottery jackpot in Nebraska's history. The $365 million jackpot was also the biggest lottery prize ever won in the United States at that time.
Nevada
No state lottery, but lawmakers have been close to putting the lottery to a vote for the citizens of Nevada.
New Hampshire - $559.7 million
This winner in New Hampshire won the biggest jackpot in the state's history, winning a $559.7 million Powerball jackpot in January 2018. They fought it in the courts to remain anonymous, and they won.
New Jersey - $1.13 billion
This Mega Millions winner took almost nine months to claim their $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot. They won on March 26, 2024, and claimed the biggest New Jersey Lottery jackpot in December 2024.
New Mexico - $206.9 million
A last-minute decision paid off for a group of nine friends in New Mexico. They decided to pool their money together to buy a Powerball ticket for the September 2014 drawing. It was just two hours before the drawing was held, but the decision paid off with a $206.9 million jackpot win, the biggest in the state.
New York - $476 million
The biggest jackpot out of New York came when a 71-year-old man from Queens won the April 2023 Mega Millions jackpot, which was at $476 million at the time.
North Carolina - $344.6 million
In June 2019, Charles Jackson Jr. used the lucky numbers from a fortune cookie to win the biggest lottery jackpot in the state's history. He won $344.6 million playing Powerball.
North Dakota - $3 million
It may be the biggest jackpot in the state, but it's definitely the lowest jackpot on our list. On two separate occasions, players in North Dakota have won $3 million playing Mega Millions, the most ever won at one time.
Ohio - $375 million
The holiday season paid off for this lucky lottery winner, who won the largest jackpot in the state in December 2019. They claimed the $375 million Mega Millions win under “The Great Hope Trust.”
Oklahoma - $105.8 million
In 2006, Oklahoma started offering Powerball to its players. In June 2007, a couple won $105.8 million to become the biggest winners in the state.
Oregon - $1.33 billion
Oregon Lottery players increased their biggest lottery jackpot win amount in April 2024. One lucky ticketholder matched all the winning numbers to win the $1.33 billion jackpot, the fifth-largest jackpot in the game's history.
Pennsylvania - $516 million
Another big lottery win, and another group winning it. This five-member group in Pennsylvania claimed their $516 million Mega Millions jackpot as the “Peace of Mind Trust” in May 2021.
Rhode Island - $336.4 million
A trip to get rainbow sherbet changed this woman's life in Rhode Island. During that trip, she decided to also buy Powerball tickets, and she ended up with the winning ticket for the $336.4 million jackpot. She just so happened to claim the winnings under The Rainbow Sherbet Trust.
South Carolina - $1.54 billion
The second-largest Mega Millions jackpot ever also happens to be the biggest jackpot winner in the state of South Carolina. The anonymous winner hit the jackpot in March 2018 but waited until October 2019 to claim their prize.
South Dakota - $232.1 million
A 23-year-old cowboy won the biggest jackpot in South Dakota history back in May 2009. He took those Powerball winnings and bought his own ranch, which he then sold in September 2020 for $37 million, more than double what he paid.
Tennessee - $528.8 million
The Powerball jackpot climbed to $1.59 billion in 2016. There ended up being three winning tickets for that jackpot, with one of them being a couple from Tennessee. That couple holds the record for the biggest lottery jackpot win, claiming $528.8 million for their third of the jackpot.
Texas - $893.5 million
Like in Missouri above, the biggest jackpot win for the Texas Lottery came in October 2025. The Powerball jackpot climbed to $1.79 billion before two lucky tickets matched all of the winning numbers. The second ticket came from Texas, with them getting $893.5 million.
Utah
No state lottery in Utah.
Vermont - $366.7 million
It was the first Powerball jackpot win for the state of Vermont. It turned out to be a big one, as an anonymous person won $366.7 million in June 2022.
Virginia - $348 million
In July 2025, a new record jackpot was won in Virginia. One ticket matched all the winning numbers to win the Mega Millions jackpot.
Washington - $754.6 million
When you see a sign, run with it. That's what Becky Bell did in February 2023. Bell worked for Boeing, and after leaving work, she saw a sign that the Powerball jackpot was $747 million. That day at work, they delivered the last 747 jumbo jet. She thought it was a sign, and it was, as she went on to win $754.6 million.
Washington, D.C. - $144 million
The biggest jackpot win for Washington, D.C. players came in 2009. An 82-year-old man hit the Powerball jackpot for $144 million and planned to use the money to help his family, which consists of 10 children, and 47 grand and great-grandchildren.
West Virginia - $314.9 million
Another big holiday win, with Andrew “Jack” Whittaker winning the Powerball jackpot on Christmas Day in 2002. He owned a sewage company and was already worth $17 million, but he added $314.9 million to his fortune.
Wisconsin - $768.4 million
Winning at such a young age. This 24-year-old Wisconsin resident won the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot in March 2019. At that time, it was the third-largest lottery win in the country's history.
Wyoming - $5 million
Wyoming is due for a big jackpot win, as the current highest jackpot win took place in March 2016. One lucky person won $5 million playing Mega Millions. It happened to be the first Mega Millions lottery win for the state. The multi-state draw game debuted in Wyoming in 2014.
Big jackpots don't just change bank accounts; they spark daydreams across the country. Whether it's a billion-dollar Mega Millions run or a local game that suddenly makes headlines, every state has its own “what if” moment. And that's part of the fun: watching, waiting, and wondering if this time, it might finally be your turn. After all, someone's got to win, so why not you?
That's it. How does your state rank?
Enjoy playing the lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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