LIST: Top 10 Lottery Jackpots Ranked

Serious question: Have you ever daydreamed about being a billionaire?! Well, your dreams could come true because Wednesday’s Powerball jackpot drawing has risen to a jaw-dropping $1.3 billion! 

It’s been building since May 31, stacking up through 40 straight drawings without a winner.  There was no winner on Labor Day Monday so Wednesday’s jackpot will be the fifth-largest jackpot in Powerball history.

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ABC News made a list of the top 10 lottery prizes ever won in the United States and apparently California is where it’s at to win the lottery!

Here are the top 10 U.S. lottery prizes ever won:

• $2.04 billion - Powerball, November 2022 (California)
• $1.76 billion - Powerball, October 2023 (California)
• $1.60 billion - Mega Millions, August 2023 (Florida)
• $1.59 billion - Powerball, January 2016 (California, Florida, Tennessee)
• $1.54 billion - Mega Millions, October 2018 (South Carolina)
• $1.35 billion - Mega Millions, January 2023 (Maine)
• $1.34 billion - Mega Millions, July 2022 (Illinois)
• $1.33 billion - Powerball, April 2024 (Oregon)
• $1.30 billion - Powerball, September 2025 (current jackpot)
• $1.27 billion - Mega Millions, December 2024 (California)

Let’s pretend you did win the billions. How much money are you actually taking home?

According to ABC News, winners can take the annuity route, which pays out around $43 million a year for 30 years. Sounds great, but after federal taxes, you’re actually looking at about $27 million per year.

Most winners, though, go for the lump sum: $589 million upfront. But taxes swoop in fast. With federal cuts, that drops to around $371 million in your pocket. I mean…. I’ll take that still!