Biggest Lottery Winners: Mega Millions, Powerball, and National Lotteries

Mega Millions: A Record-Breaking Jackpot

Mega Millions holds the record for one of the largest lottery prizes ever awarded. On March 6, 2007, a ticket holder from New Jersey and another from Georgia shared an astounding $390 million jackpot. This monumental win remains one of the most talked-about events in lottery history.

 

Powerball: The Largest Lottery Win

The largest lottery win on record belongs to Powerball. On February 18, 2006, eight co-workers from a Nebraska meat processing plant collectively purchased a single ticket that won them a staggering $365 million. This incredible story of teamwork and luck continues to inspire lottery players worldwide.

Italian SuperEnalotto: A Pub’s Lucky Night

In Italy, ten friends from a Milan bar hb 88 decided to buy a joint ticket for the SuperEnalotto. On May 4, 2005, their ticket won them €71.8 million, the largest lottery prize in Italian history at the time. This win is a testament to the idea that sometimes the best ideas are born in pubs.

The Big Game (Now Mega Millions): Double Couple Win

On May 9, 2000, two couples, Larry and Nancy Ross from Michigan and Joe and Sue Kainz from Illinois, won a $363 million jackpot in The Big Game, now known as Mega Millions. This win significantly changed their lives, making them instant millionaires.

EuroMillions: Europe’s Largest Jackpot

Europe’s largest lottery jackpot was hit on February 3, 2006. Two players from France and one from Portugal shared a massive €180 million prize. This win remains one of the most significant in European lottery history.

 

Dolores McNamara: Ireland’s Biggest Lotto Winner

Dolores McNamara from Ireland became Europe’s biggest lotto winner on July 31, 2005. Her quick-pick ticket for the EuroMillions lottery matched the game’s five winning numbers and two “lucky stars,” winning her a nine-week rollover jackpot of over €115 million. This win made her Ireland’s 72nd richest person at the time.

German National Lottery: A Nurse’s Lucky Day

On October 7, 2006, a nurse from North Rhine-Westphalia won the biggest jackpot in the history of the German National Lottery, taking home €37.6 million. This win remains a significant milestone in German lottery history.