Biggest Lottery Jackpots

Besides winning the biggest lottery jackpots, there’s nothing more thrilling for players than watching the pot accumulate over time! From the United States to South Africa, Spain, and other countries that host some of the largest lotteries globally, playing for the largest prize is uber popular.

But, which are the biggest lottery jackpots and where can you play them? More importantly, what and when have been the biggest lotto payouts in history and can you expect them to repeat in the near future?

Your chances of hitting the mega millions are as good as the next player but there are tips on how to increase your winning odds. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the huge jackpots and aim to become the next winner of a record payout in lottery history!

Lotteries with the Biggest Jackpots

If you’re an avid lottery player, paying attention to the biggest jackpots available worldwide is a popular strategy for hitting a major prize.

Here’s a quick summary as an overview.

Lottery Ticket Price / line Big Lottery Wins
US Powerball $2 $2.04 billion

$1.586 billion

Mega Millions $2 $1.537 billion

$1.05 billion

EuroMillions €2.50 €230 million

€210 million

Eurojackpot €2 €110 million

Now, here are more details on the lotteries with winnings that could see you smiling all the way to the bank should you strike gold with the next ticket!

US Powerball

One of the most popular and largest lottery games being played right now in the United States is the US Powerball. Each ticket costs $2 and players pick five numbers between 1 and 69  for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26  for the red “Powerball.”

Players hit the jackpot if they pick all the right numbers and combinations. In other words, your ticket must match all six numbers on the white and red balls in the right combination. Smaller prizes can be won if the player matches some combinations of the winning numbers. Players can score $4 if they match only the red “Powerball” number.

On November 7, 2022, US Powerball was offering a record-breaking lotto prize of over $1.9 billion, the biggest jackpot ever seen in the history of this game. What’s more, the $2.04 billion prize (the eventual value of the jackpot after all ticket sales were taken into account) was won with a ticket bought in California, making it the biggest lottery payout in the world!

US Powerball is no stranger to some of the biggest jackpots in history with three different players winning the second-largest pot of $1.586 billion on January 13, 2016. On March 27, 2019, a single winner claimed the $768.4 billion prize, another of the major jackpots ever to be won.

Mega Millions

Played in 45 American states, Mega Millions comes close to US Powerball in offering some of the biggest lottery jackpots. While US Powerball holds the world title of the largest lotto payout in history, Mega Millions is a strong competitor when offering major prizes.

Similar to US Powerball, the ticket buyer chooses five numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls and one number between 1 and 25 for the “Mega” gold ball. Matching all five balls plus the “Mega” ball wins you the main prize while smaller wins are paid out for lesser combinations on winning numbers.

Mega Millions was the lottery that offered the second jackpot ever to break the $1 billion mark when a winner claimed the $1.537 bn pot on October 23, 2018. It was also the world’s largest lottery prize won by a single ticket holder.

Staying above the billion dollar mark, the Mega Millions jackpot of $1.05 bn was claimed by a four-person lotto club based in Michigan. The group purchased a single ticket for the draw made on January 22, 2021.

Yet again, on July 29, 2022, Mega Millions offered another huge jackpot of $1.337 billion which was won by two players on a single ticket. After deductions, the winners walked away with a lump sum payment to the value of $780.5 million!

EuroMillions

While European lotteries haven’t reached the billion mark yet, their biggest jackpots are not to be ignored! EuroMillions reached the highest cap of €230 million on July 8, 2022, but wasn’t won at that time. However, the highest EuroMillions ever won was in the UK by a single ticket-holder who hit the €230 million jackpot on July 19, 2022.

The winning ticket matched all five numbers plus the two Lucky Stars digits. The previous UK record holders were a British couple who claimed the prize of €210 million in May of the same year. The second-highest EuroMillions jackpot won was €220 million on October 15, 2021. Between 2012 and 2022, 10 jackpots ranging between €230 and €190 million have been won.

Launched in France in 2004, Euromillions is played in eight other European countries. These are Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Austria, and the United Kingdom. Players pick five numbers from 1 to 50 plus two Lucky Stars digits between 1 and 12.

Eurojackpot 

Another notable European transnational lottery known for its sizeable jackpots is the Eurojackpot which was first launched in 2012. Participating countries include the following:

  • Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

The jackpot starts at €10 million and can grow up to €120m, with players picking five numbers out of 50 plus an additional two digits between 1 and 12. The highest jackpot of €120 million was won on May 20, 2022, in Germany. The same amount was won in Denmark on July 22, 2022.

Major payouts range between €61 million and €110m between 2014 and 2022 with the majority of winning tickets bought in Germany. Eurojackpot rules changed the cap from €90 million to €120m in March 2022.

Where Can You Play Lotteries with the Biggest Jackpots?

Some of the best online lottery betting sites make it possible for you to play lotteries with the biggest jackpots even if you’re not a resident of the drawing country. Check out the sites below and decide for yourself which platform suits your lottery playing style when going after the millions and billions!

LottoAgent

The LottoAgent platform offers over 20 different lotteries including the popular US Powerball and Mega Millions. This licensed lottery agent is trustworthy, offering 24/7 customer support plus a wide range of promotions and a mobile app for players on the go. The site has paid out to over 7.8 million lotto players worldwide.

The site is user-friendly, making it easy to see the different lottery games and jackpot amounts at a glance. Features include syndicates, multiple draws, a 10% welcome bonus, Easy Pick, and Multiplier. The sign-up process is simple and straightforward.

LottoAgent doesn’t charge commission fees when paying out winnings. However, you’re still liable for any taxes due depending on the taxation rules of the country in which the lottery is drawn. Winnings are also paid out according to the rules of a specific lottery and aren’t determined by the agent. You can also check our full LottoAgent review for more details.

Lottoagent Homepage

LottoSmile

If you’re looking for an online lottery site that offers a HUGE range of games, you can’t go wrong with LottoSmile! The platform offers over 40 different lotteries worldwide including the ever-popular US Powerball, Mega Millions, Eurojackpot, and EuroMillions if you’re after the big one!

It’s one of the longest-running lottery sites and has been in business for over 20 years. It’s free to register on the site and its features include the following:

  • Bundles at a discount price.
  • Syndicates for boosting your odds of hitting a jackpot.
  • Raffles (for something a little different).

The site offers bonuses and promotions, subscriptions, a VIP club, and multi-draws. Navigating the platform is simple with its intuitive interface. Winnings are paid directly into your account unless otherwise dictated by specific lottery rules which you can find in our full LottoSmile review.

LottoSmile Online

TheLotter

Another licensed and regulated lottery site you can trust is theLotter which offers over 40 different international lotteries including high jackpot games. The platform is easy to use on desktop and mobile devices (Android and iOS.) You can purchase tickets for US Powerball, Mega Millions, EuroMillions, and Eurojackpot when you register an account with this online agent (more details in theLotter review).

TheLotter site is user-friendly, making it a breeze to browse through the different pages. Similar to other reputable lottery sites, theLotter offers bonuses and promotions, multi-draws and subscriptions, bundles, and syndicates. You can get even more discounts and special offers by joining the VIP club.

Payouts are 100% commission free although winnings are subjected to taxes of the country in which the lottery is played. TheLotter publishes the names of winners plus the country in which they reside.

WinTrillions

Offering over 20 lottery games around the world including the highest jackpot games, WinTrillions is a site for the intrepid lotto player! They’ve been helping lottery players for over 17 years and are licensed to operate as reputable agents.

All four of the popular biggest lottery jackpots mentioned in this article can be played on this platform. Other sought-after games include SuperEnalotto and The Max Lotto. They also include millionaire raffles for players looking for something different.

You’re charged a small handling fee when purchasing your ticket but all winnings are commission-free. Prizes under $600 are paid directly into your account. Anything bigger requires following the payout rules of the specific lottery but WinTrillions will walk you through the process when claiming your prize (read more in the WinTrillions review).

WinTrillions-homepage

8 of the Biggest Lotto Payouts in History

Some of the biggest lotto payouts in history are liable for deductions but the take-home payment is enough to make winners feel like they’ve struck gold! US lotteries are subjected to up to 37% federal tax (depending on the state) on winnings. However, if you hit the jackpot in the UK, you get the lump sum payment tax-free!

Knowing the main lottery rules and regulations by country will keep you informed of any deductions should you get the mega millions! While there may be ways to avoid taxes on lottery winnings, staying on the right side of the law is advisable!

Still, these big lottery payouts give you an idea of what you stand to win – you can still be very rich whether you pay tax on your winnings or not.

Lottery Name Amount Date Details
Powerball $2.04 billion 7 November 2022 Single ticket holder in California
Mega Millions $1.05 billion 22 January 2021 Single ticket holder in Michigan
Powerball $687.8 million 27 October 2018 Two tickets in Iowa and New York
Euromillions €230 million 19 July 2022 UK ticket holder
EuroJackpot €120 million 20 May 2022 A player in Germany and again, on July 22, 2022, by a ticket holder in Denmark
Irish Lotto €19.06 million 15 January 2022 This was Ireland’s largest ever lotto win
SuperEnalotto €209.1 million 13 August 2019 Single winner
SA Powerball R232,131,750.69 19 February 2019 Single winner

Tips on How You Can Win the Lottery Jackpot

While winning the jackpot isn’t guaranteed there are strategies you can use to improve your chances of winning the bonanza prize. We share some suggestions that could up the odds of winning one of the popular jackpot games.

Lottery Wheeling System

One way you can improve your chances of winning the next record-breaking billions is by using the lottery wheeling system. This interesting strategy requires you to pick your own lucky numbers and the system is based on a mathematical combination that scientifically calculates your probability of winning.

There are various methods used in the lottery wheeling system and you can pick from any of the following types:

  • Key Number Wheel – This strategy includes your key number which could be your favorite digits such as a birth date or zodiac lucky numeral. This key digit is factored into every combination produced by the wheeling system.
  • Abbreviated Wheel – A cost-effective way of playing the lottery while still giving you a chance at winning the jackpot. This wheeling system produces fewer number combinations.
  • Full Wheel – This system allows you to play all possible combinations from your chosen digits. The wheeling system gives you the best odds of winning the main prize.

Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6 Wheels are also popular systems. The wheeling system is all about combinational patterns and probabilities, both key strategies for improving your winning odds. It can be used on any lottery game while working best for those that include six numbers. 

Choosing Numbers Carefully

Being selective about which numbers you play can increase the odds of getting the jackpot you’ve always dreamed of winning. Calculating the probability of winning the lottery entails using the mathematical field strategy to tell you which lotteries to play BUT also which numbers are more likely to win.

If you believe in the law of attraction, picking numbers with higher vibrational frequencies can net you the mega millions or more! Whatever your strategy, choosing numbers carefully means you have serious intentions for winning a game that gives more emphasis on the chosen digits.

Looking at Hot and Cold Numbers

Paying attention to hot and cold numbers can help you win the lottery. Using these numbers when manually picking digits for your ticket ups the chances of winning a draw. Hot numbers are those that have been drawn frequently in lotteries, making them have a higher probability of being in a winning combination. However, these do vary depending on the type of game played.

On the other hand, cold numbers are those that crop up less frequently but should be played occasionally as they can randomly appear in a winning game. Using hot and cold numbers is a popular strategy used by the pros simply because it includes patterns and probabilities.

This strategy does require extensive research and time to scroll through the various winnings on recent lottery games. However, it does give you more chances of getting the winning combination and doesn’t leave you completely in the hands of Lady Luck!

Combination of Odds and Evens

A great way to create a lotto combination is by using odd and even numbers. It’s a rare occasion to have a draw that only includes odd or even numbers so going with a combination is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss out on.

With Mega Millions, you would pick a combination of odd and even numbers up to 70 for the first five digits. Then, take one or the other for the last number up to 25. This approach is one of the best lotto strategies for boosting your chance of winning the lottery.

Buy Tickets Every Week

Buying tickets every week is a popular strategy used by both novice and expert lottery players. Playing more frequently not only exposes you to more lotteries worldwide but it allows you to experiment with different strategies.

When buying tickets every week, be sure to budget for them so you don’t end up overspending on lottery games. Quoting Andy Gray who said, “Well you can’t win the lottery if you don’t have a ticket”, we take it one step further. Buy more tickets frequently and increase your chances of winning the jackpot of your dreams!

Final Thoughts

Winning the biggest lottery jackpot must be every player’s wildest dream! None of us know when the next record-breaking win is going to happen, but if you don’t buy the tickets and use strategy, your odds of winning are virtually nil!

Discovering the lotto secrets shared by the biggest lottery winners is another strategy you could use when buying tickets for your big win. Give it a go because there’s nothing stopping you from winning the next biggest lottery jackpot!