The two largest lottery games in the United States are Mega Millions and Powerball. Both are known for producing massive jackpots that can exceed one billion dollars, but they differ in jackpot size, odds, and how often they create ultra-wealthy winners.
This article compares the biggest Mega Millions winners with the biggest Powerball winners and answers two key questions:
Which lottery has generated wealthier winners, and which lottery is easier to win?
Can Foreigners Play in American Powerball Lottery or Mega Millions lottery?
Biggest Powerball Lottery Winners and Their Record Jackpots
Powerball currently holds the record for the largest lottery jackpot ever won.
The biggest Powerball wins include:
-
$2.04 billion, won in California in 2022
-
$1.765 billion, won in California in 2023
-
$1.586 billion, split between three tickets in 2016
-
$1.326 billion, won in Oregon in 2024
These jackpots place Powerball firmly at the top when it comes to maximum individual wealth creation in lottery history.
Powerball Lump Sum vs Annuity – Which Option Pays More?
Biggest Mega Millions Lottery Winners and Their Largest Jackpots
Mega Millions is slightly behind Powerball in terms of peak jackpot size but still produces extraordinary winners.
The largest Mega Millions jackpots include:
-
$1.602 billion, won in Florida in 2023
-
$1.537 billion, won in South Carolina in 2018
-
$1.348 billion, won in Maine in 2023
-
$1.337 billion, won in Illinois in 2022
While Mega Millions jackpots are slightly smaller on average, they still rank among the biggest lottery prizes ever awarded.
Which Lottery Generated Wealthier Winners: Powerball or Mega Millions?
When comparing the largest winners from each lottery, Powerball has clearly generated wealthier individual winners.
Key reasons Powerball winners tend to be richer:
-
Powerball holds the all-time world record jackpot
-
More Powerball jackpots have exceeded $1.5 billion
-
Powerball jackpots tend to roll over longer, creating extreme prize growth
Mega Millions produces many ultra-rich winners, but Powerball dominates at the very top end of the wealth scale.
Which Lottery Produces Billion-Dollar Winners More Often?
Powerball has produced more billion-dollar jackpots than Mega Millions overall.
This is largely due to:
-
Slightly longer jackpot odds
-
More frequent long rollover streaks
-
No jackpot cap
Mega Millions still produces billion-dollar jackpots regularly, but Powerball reaches those levels more often.
Which Lottery Is Easier to Win Based on Jackpot Odds?
From an odds perspective, Powerball is slightly easier to win than Mega Millions, although both games are extremely difficult.
Current approximate jackpot odds:
-
Powerball: about 1 in 292 million
-
Mega Millions: about 1 in 302 million
While the difference is small, Powerball offers marginally better odds of winning the jackpot.
Which Lottery Is Easier to Win Any Prize: Powerball or Mega Millions?
When considering the odds of winning any prize, Powerball again has a small advantage.
Typical overall odds:
-
Powerball: about 1 in 25
-
Mega Millions: about 1 in 24
Mega Millions has slightly better odds for winning smaller prizes, but the difference is minimal and does not significantly change player experience.
Why Powerball and Mega Millions Feel Different to Players
Powerball is designed to create extreme, headline-breaking jackpots, even if they are won less frequently. Mega Millions focuses on consistency, producing very large jackpots at a steady pace.
This leads to different player perceptions:
-
Powerball is associated with record-breaking wealth
-
Mega Millions is seen as more stable but slightly less extreme
Final Verdict: Powerball vs Mega Millions Winners and Winning Odds
Based on historical data and jackpot records:
-
Wealthier winners overall: Powerball
-
Largest jackpot ever: Powerball
-
Easier jackpot odds: Powerball (by a small margin)
-
Comparable life-changing wins: Mega Millions
Both lotteries offer extraordinarily low odds, but both can create once-in-a-lifetime wealth.
How This Comparison Helps Lottery Players
Understanding the differences between Powerball and Mega Millions helps players decide which lottery aligns better with their goals. Some players prefer chasing the largest possible jackpot, while others focus on marginally better odds or smaller but still massive prizes.