Playing the lottery is an exciting way to pass the time. And for some winners, it has paid off big. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest Massachusetts state lottery winners, the games they played, how they claimed their winnings and what happens after you win the lottery.
Powerball Creates Multiple Huge Lottery Winners in Massachusetts
Massachusetts state lottery winners abound when playing Powerball. Mavis Wanczyk of Chicopee, MA, took home $758.7 million in a 2017 Powerball drawing. Larger prizes have been claimed in other states in more recent years (see our top 10 list below). At the time, it was the highest prize ever won on a single ticket. Now that’s some Massachusetts lottery news!
Other Powerball Massachusetts state lottery winners include a prize of $61.5 million in 2013 and $50 million in 2012. Interestingly, these winning tickets were sold a year and a day apart from each other, with the 2013 winning ticket being sold on Dec. 11 and the 2012 winning ticket being sold on Dec. 12.
Largest Lottery Prizes Ever Won
We’ve heard about the largest Massachusetts state lottery winners for Powerball, but what are the largest prizes ever won, and where were the winning tickets sold? Let’s take a look:
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$2.04 billion on a single Powerball ticket from California, won on Nov. 7, 2022
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$1.765 billion on a single Powerball ticket from California, won on Oct. 11, 2023
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$1.602 billion on a single Mega Millions ticket from Florida, won on Aug. 8, 2023
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$1.586 billion on three Powerball tickets from Florida, California and Tennessee, won on Jan. 13, 2016
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$1.537 billion on one Mega Millions ticket from South Carolina, won on Oct. 23, 2018
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1.348 billion on one Mega Millions ticket from Maine, won on Jan. 13, 2023
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$1.337 billion on one Mega Millions ticket from Illinois, won on July 29, 2022
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$1.326 billion on one Powerball ticket from Oregon, won on April 7, 2024
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$1.13 billion on one Mega Millions ticket from New Jersey, won on March 26, 2024
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$1.08 billion on one Powerball ticket from California, won on July 19, 2023
How Massachusetts State Lottery Winners Claimed Their Prizes
When talking about prizes this big, lottery winners have a choice to make. There are two ways to claim a top prize in games like Powerball and Mega Millions. Winners can choose between a one-time lump sum payment or taking an annuity where payments are sent to the winner annually over time. Other Massachusetts lottery games that offer this option also include MegaBucks. So, what’s the difference?
Lump Sum Payment
The cash option is set based on the amount in the prize pool on the date of the drawing. Winners who choose the lump sum payment option will receive approximately 40-50% of the jackpot amount. Most winners choose this option. If the winnings are invested wisely, you can earn more over time than with the annuity option. For example, the return on investment for the stock market is roughly 10% per year before inflation.
Annuity Payment
The annuity option provides winners with the total jackpot, but the winnings come over an extended period. For example, with each Powerball and Mega Millions, payouts occur annually over 30 years. The first payment is received immediately after the win, and 29 additional payments are paid out annually, gradually increasing the payments by 5% per year until all of the winnings have been paid. For MegaBucks, the payments are made in equal installments over 20 years.
If the winner passes away before all payments are made, the remaining payments are made to the winner’s estate or beneficiaries the winner placed on file with the lottery commission upon collecting their first installment.
What Happens After Becoming a Massachusetts State Lottery Winner?
So, you were lucky enough to join the ranks of lottery winners in Massachusetts? Congrats! There are some things you must know. First, you have 60 days to decide whether to take the annuity or the lump sum options. While the annuity option must be exercised within 60 days, you have up to one year to claim your cash.
Next, make sure you sign your ticket. Hopefully, you did that when you received the ticket if ordered in person and locked it away in case you have a winning ticket so it wouldn’t get lost.
If you ordered a ticket through a lottery courier like Jackpocket, don't worry. We locked up your ticket and will arrange to securely send your ticket to you so you can claim your winnings.
For more information on claiming your prize, visit the Massachusetts State Lottery website. Prizes up to $103,000 can be claimed on the Massachusetts lottery app. Prizes up to $50,000 can be claimed by mail. Prizes from $601 and above can be claimed in person at any Massachusetts lottery office.
Can Lottery Winners Remain Anonymous in Massachusetts​?
If you win big, you may wish to keep your identity a secret. Unfortunately, winners can’t remain anonymous when claiming lottery prizes in Massachusetts. However, there is a way to protect your identity.
To protect your identity, you will need the help of a lawyer to create a trust. The winnings can be claimed by the trust and placed in a separate bank account in the name of the trust. Then, the trustee can smoothly and privately transfer the winnings to the actual winner.
Ready to join in the fun? Find out how big lottery winners have chosen their numbers, download the Jackpocket app and order your tickets today!
