SOME of the biggest jackpots of all time have been won by people playing lottery games around the world.
The payouts vary depending on where in the world the game is hosted. Below is a look at some of the biggest jackpots in Europe, as well as the eye-watering sums that have been won in the US in the last few years.
Though it’s easy to bet on the US Powerball and other lotteries, the odds of succeeding are mightily slim. However, there’s still that chance!
1. $2.04 Billion, US Powerball, 2022
The US Powerball is arguably one of the most difficult lotteries to win as 45 states offer the lottery, as well as Washington DC, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, so the pool of players is huge. The odds of winning are 1 in 292.2 million.
Players have to correctly guess five numbers and a Powerball number, drawn at random. To play it costs $2, or $3 with the Power Play option to enhance the odds.
In 2022, the total pool was an eye-watering $2.04 billion, the largest amount that’s ever been accumulated in a lottery – flirting with the GDP output of some countries.
The huge sum was finally won by Edwin Castro from California in November 2022 with the numbers 10-33-41-47-56 and a Powerball number of 10.
A shy figure who’s done his best to avoid media attention, Castro has since spent his winnings on two multi-million-dollar houses (one of which cost $25.5m) and is understood to live a quiet yet lavish lifestyle in his home state of California.
However, some people have questioned the reliability of the draw. It was mysteriously delayed by 10 hours, but Castro would not have minded that at all.
2. $1.6 Billion, US Mega Millions, 2023
In August 2023, the second biggest jackpot of all time was won by a Florida-based winner.
The previous record-holding winner took $1.537 billion home to South Carolina in 2018.
The winner, who has yet to be identified, can take annual instalments or a lump sum, usually for less though.
There can be further federal tax deductions , but luckily for the winner, Florida does not tax lottery winnings.
3. $1.58 Billion, US Powerball, 2016
Unlike with the two winners above, three people won this prize in 2016, sharing the winnings among themselves.
One of the winners again hailed from Florida, another from California, and the final winner from Tennessee. Each opted to take a lump sum payment totalling $328 million each.
4. €371.1 Million, SuperEnalotto, Italy, 2023
The winning sums in Europe are markedly less than in the US, but the population of players is a lot smaller.
This was the biggest European victory when the Italian national lottery eclipsed the previous European record.
In the end, 90 players won, sharing in the spoils.
5. €230 Million, EuroMillions, UK, 2022
Another big win in Europe was in the UK when a lucky player won a record €230m in the Europe-wide lottery..
The winner was the sole victor, and it remains the biggest amount won in the UK by a large margin.
