Mega Millions Billion-Dollar Jackpots History
Mega Millions, one of the premier multi-state lotteries in the United States, is famed for regularly producing prizes that break world records. Jackpots start at $20 million and roll over until a winner matches all six numbers, a feat with odds of approximately 1 in 302.6 million. These extended rolling streaks are responsible for the game’s historic, attention-grabbing payouts.
The game’s record-setting period largely began after format changes in 2017 and 2025, which lowered the odds and created even larger, faster-growing jackpots.
The All-Time Top Mega Millions Jackpots
Mega Millions has produced numerous billion-dollar winners, solidifying its place in global lottery history.
The World Record: $1.602 Billion
The largest Mega Millions jackpot ever won stands at $1.602 billion (annuitized value), claimed after the August 8, 2023, drawing. The single winning ticket was sold in Neptune Beach, Florida. The prize was claimed just weeks later by an entity called Saltines Holdings, LLC, which opted for the lump-sum cash option of $794.2 million. The use of a trust or LLC for claiming such large prizes is a common strategy used by winners for privacy and asset protection.
The Historic Second Place
The second-largest jackpot in game history was a $1.537 billion prize won in South Carolina on October 23, 2018. This winner chose to remain anonymous, a right protected under South Carolina state law, and waited until near the final deadline to claim the prize in March 2019.
Recent Billion-Dollar Prizes
The game has consistently produced massive wins in recent years:
- $1.348 Billion (January 13, 2023): Won in Maine, this prize was claimed by LaKoma Island Investments, LLC.
- $1.337 Billion (July 29, 2022): An anonymous partnership claimed this massive Illinois prize.
- $1.269 Billion (December 27, 2024): Won by Rosemary Casarotti in California.
- $1.128 Billion (March 26, 2024): Won anonymously in New Jersey.
- $1.050 Billion (January 22, 2021): Claimed by the Wolverine FLL Club of four members in Michigan.
2025 Jackpots and the Current Roll
The year 2025 has seen four jackpots won so far, totaling over $921 million combined, but none have yet broken into the all-time top 10. These wins were claimed promptly via trusts or anonymously where state laws permit.
The current jackpot has been rolling over since the Virginia winner claimed the prize on June 27, 2025. This long run, approaching the record for most drawings without a winner, has pushed the grand prize to historic levels.
Claiming the Prize: Privacy and Protection
For large Mega Millions prizes, the claiming process often involves setting up legal structures for privacy and asset protection.
- Trusts and LLCs: Most billion-dollar winners utilize a limited liability company (LLC) or a trust to claim their winnings. This allows the financial entity’s name to be made public while keeping the individual winner’s identity private, especially in states that do not allow full anonymity.
- Cash vs. Annuity: Winners choose between the full annuitized jackpot (paid out over 30 years) or the significantly smaller lump-sum Cash Option (the present cash value). Most winners choose the cash payment for immediate control over the funds, despite the massive upfront tax bill it creates.
Unclaimed prizes, which are rare for jackpots but occur for lower tiers, are retained by the state lotteries and are typically used to fund education or other designated public programs.
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