Many people dream of winning the lottery and becoming instant millionaires. While the odds of winning are slim, there have been some lucky individuals who have beat the odds and won big. Here are some of the biggest lotto wins in history and the stories behind them.
1. $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot
The biggest lotto win in history goes to three lucky winners who shared a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot in January 2016. The winners were from California, Florida, and Tennessee, and each took home $528.8 million before taxes. The winners chose to remain anonymous, but their stories of how they found out they won are heartwarming and exciting.
2. €190 million EuroMillions jackpot
In October 2014, an anonymous winner from Portugal won a €190 million EuroMillions jackpot. This was the biggest lotto win in Europe at the time. The winner claimed the prize and said they would use the money to help their family and friends and contribute to charitable causes. The win was also significant because it was the first time the EuroMillions jackpot had rolled over to the maximum amount.
3. $758.7 million Powerball jackpot
In August 2017, Mavis Wanczyk from Massachusetts won a $758.7 million Powerball jackpot, making her the biggest single winner in US lotto history. Wanczyk had worked at a hospital for 32 years and quit her job the day after winning the jackpot. She said she planned to use the money to retire early and travel the world.
4. €209 million EuroMillions jackpot
In February 2020, a winner from Switzerland won a €209 million EuroMillions jackpot. The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, said they were in shock when they found out they had won. They said they planned to use the money to travel the world and do things they had never been able to do before.
5. $656 million Mega Millions jackpot
In March 2012, three winners from Maryland, Kansas, and Illinois shared a $656 million Mega Millions jackpot. Each winner took home $218.6 million before taxes. The winners were all from different backgrounds but had one thing in common: they were all in shock when they found out they had won. One of the winners, Merle Butler from Illinois, said he had to check his ticket multiple times before he believed he had won.
These are just a few of the biggest lotto wins in history. While winning the lottery is rare, these stories show that it can happen to anyone. Whether the winners choose to remain anonymous or share their stories with the world, their lives will never be the same again.
