Largest Powerball Jackpot in History
The largest Powerball jackpot in history was $2.04 billion, won on November 7, 2022, in California. The single winning ticket was sold at a supermarket in Altadena and claimed the top prize in the game's history. The winner chose the cash option, which was approximately $997.6 million before taxes, according to the California Lottery and Powerball official statements California Lottery.
This jackpot set a new record for the largest lottery prize in the United States, surpassing previous Powerball and Mega Millions records. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in 292.2 million, based on the current game structure. The prize rolled over multiple times after no one matched all five white balls plus the red Powerball in the preceding drawings.
How the Record Winning Ticket Was Claimed
The anonymous winner of the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot chose to remain unnamed and claimed the prize through a trust. California law allows winners to maintain anonymity, and the claim was processed at the California Lottery headquarters in Sacramento. The winner signed the back of the ticket and followed the required procedures for large prize claims Powerball.
After taxes, the lump-sum payment was significantly lower than the headline jackpot amount. Federal taxes withheld 24 percent, and California state taxes applied an additional withholding for residents. The winner received a single cash payout rather than the 30-year annuity option, which is a common choice for large lottery prizes Forbes.
Powerball Game Structure and Previous Major Wins
Powerball is a multi-state lottery game played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Players select five numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball number from 1 to 26. Drawings are held three times a week, and jackpots start at $20 million and grow when there is no top-prize winner.
Before the $2.04 billion win, the previous largest Powerball jackpot was $1.586 billion, won in January 2016 by three ticket holders in California, Florida, and Tennessee. Other major Powerball wins have included $768.4 million and $758.7 million jackpots. Powerball is operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association, and results are verified by independent auditors SEC.