More Than $6 Billion In Major Lottery Jackpots Awarded So Far In 2024

We’re in the 11th month of 2024, and so far the two major national draw lottery games — Powerball and Mega Millions — have awarded a combined 11 jackpot wins.

The distribution has not been balanced, though. Because Powerball is drawn three times each week (Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday) and Mega Millions only twice (Tuesday and Friday), it’s expected that there would be more Powerball winners than Mega Millions winners. But these numbers skew outside the expectations: There have been eight Powerball jackpots hit, compared to only three for Mega Millions.

In total, the 11 jackpot wins have been worth just over $6 billion — at least based on adding up the advertised values. Once we factor in the reality that most winners take a reduced amount as a lump-sum cash payment, and then have to pay taxes on whatever they win, the number shrinks considerably.

Still, based on the advertised jackpots, the average grand prize won in 2024 has been worth $546.1 million.

Here’s a chronological look at every drawing this year for which some lucky ticket went a perfect 6-for-6.

Jan. 1, Powerball, $842.4 million

A group of three lottery players in Michigan claimed this one, keeping their identities private under the name “The Breakfast Club.” They came forward in June, and took a lump-sum payment of $425.2 million. The win ended a streak of 34 straight drawings without a Powerball grand prize winner, dating back to October 2023.

March 26, Mega Millions, $1.13 billion

The second-largest jackpot of the year, captured by a player in New Jersey, remains unclaimed more than seven months later. In New Jersey, players have one full year to claim their prize. Whether this is a case of a winner taking their time and getting their affairs in order, or of someone simply having no idea they bought the winning ticket, is unclear. All we know is the ticket was sold at a ShopRite Liquor store in Neptune Township in Monmouth County. The March 26 drawing ended a 30-draw winless streak for Mega Millions, going back to the previous Dec. 8.

April 6, Powerball, $1.33 billion

The largest jackpot awarded this year — and the eighth biggest of all-time — was claimed in Oregon by cancer patient Cheng “Charlie” Saephan, his wife Duanpen, and their friend Laizo Chao. They took the lump-sum cash option, worth $621 million before taxes and $422.3 million after those tax deductions.

May 6, Powerball, $214.9 million

Exactly one month after the previous jackpot win, this winning ticket was sold at a Publix in Miami Shores,Florida. It was claimed by an anonymous group, who selected the lump-sum cash payout of $100.1 million before taxes.

June 4, Mega Millions, $552 million

A winner in Illinois claimed this prize anonymously just six days after the drawing. It was not announced whether they took the annuity or the lump-sum payment after hitting the largest jackpot ever won by someone using an online lottery platform.

June 10, Powerball, $222.6 million

New Jersey stayed hot, with another jackpot going to a ticket buyer in the Garden State just a couple of months after the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot. Unlike that March winner, this one came forward quickly — but anonymously — claiming the prize one month later, and taking the cash option of $104.7 million.

July 3, Powerball, $139.3 million

Someone in Ohio enjoyed some serious 4th of July weekend fireworks, hitting all six numbers on a ticket purchased at a Walmart Supercenter in Huber Heights. Four months later, the prize — with a $65.8 million cash option — remained unclaimed.

Aug. 12, Powerball, $213.8 million

For the fifth month in a row, someone won the Powerball jackpot — though this winner has not yet come forward. The ticket was sold at AJ’s Pizza in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the winner has the option to take a lump-sum payment of $106.4 million before taxes.

Aug. 19, Powerball, $44.3 million

The smallest jackpot of the year, claimed after just two grand prize rollovers following the previous win, went to “Jerry” from Orange County, California — or maybe we should say will go to “Jerry,” as he recently kicked up a fuss over not receiving his payout promptly.

Sept. 10, Mega Millions, $800 million

After 27 draws without a winner, building the fourth-largest jackpot won this year, the anonymous “Sol Living Trust,” which bought the ticket in Sugar Land, Texas, snagged a massive prize. The winner(s) opted for a cash payment of $403.9 million before taxes.

Oct. 23, Powerball, $478 million

The latest win came in Georgia and has already been claimed. An anonymous duo will split the $230.6 million lump-sum cash prize — the largest in Georgia lottery history — after purchasing their ticket a Quick Mart in the town of Buford.