Biggest Lotto Winners and Winning Lotto Numbers

The winnings in lottery games can be mind-boggling with how large they get. Lotteries are such a popular game around the globe for this very reason. While we all sit and keep our fingers crossed for our big lottery win, let's take a look at some of the bigger wins that are publicly available. These huge amounts could give some inspiration for our winning lotto numbers.

Mavis Wanczyk - $758.7 Million (Powerball)

Mavis Wanczyk, a hospital worker from Massachusetts, won the Powerball jackpot in August 2017. She chose the lump-sum payment, which amounted to about $480 million before taxes.

Anonymous - $1.537 Billion (Mega Millions)

In October 2018, a ticket holder chose to remain anonymous after winning the Mega Millions jackpot, which, at that time, was the largest lottery jackpot ever.

Gloria MacKenzie - $590.5 Million (Powerball)

Gloria MacKenzie, an 84-year-old woman from Florida, won the Powerball jackpot in May 2013. She chose the lump-sum payment of about $370 million before taxes.

John and Lisa Robinson - $528.8 Million (Powerball)

This Tennessee couple shared the Powerball jackpot in January 2016 with two other winners. They chose the lump-sum payment, receiving approximately $327.8 million before taxes.

David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith - $528.8 Million (Powerball)

This Florida couple also shared the Powerball jackpot with the Robinsons and the California winners in January 2016. They opted for the lump-sum payment.

Chino Hills Winners - $1.586 Billion (Powerball)

The Chino Hills ticket holders were among the January 2016 Powerball jackpot winners. The winners in California chose the lump-sum payment.

Merle and Patricia Butler - $656 Million (Mega Millions)

The Butlers, a retired couple from Illinois, were one of three winners who shared the Mega Millions jackpot in March 2012. They opted for the lump-sum payment.

Jeff and Christine Pintar - $116.5 Million (Powerball)

This Michigan couple won the Powerball jackpot in August 2015. They chose the lump-sum payment, receiving approximately $58.3 million before taxes.

Andrew Weber - $273 Million (Mega Millions)

Andrew Weber, a truck driver from Indiana, won the Mega Millions jackpot in March 2014. He chose the lump-sum payment, receiving approximately $110 million before taxes.

Biggest Lotto Wins In South Africa

The previously listed winners' are all from outside South Africa. In South Africa, most lottery winners remain anonymous. That makes finding out who the biggest South African Lottery Winners are harder than picking the winning lotto numbers. Nonetheless, after digging, we found a reliable source for the biggest amounts won in the South African National Lottery. No names, just a list of the winnings, when it was won and how big the payout was.

The Winning Lotto Numbers

Despite what anyone else might tell you, there is no way to predict the winning lotto numbers. If that were the case, everyone would be millionaires. But a while ago, the US Mega Lottery released the most popular numbers played since October 2017: 22, 11, 9, 10, 4, 19.

In South Africa, since June 2018, the most popular winning lotto numbers have been: 3, 24, 15, 29, 38, 49. Make with that information what you will. The best strategy to get the winning lotto numbers is to make sure you play the lotto.