One year ago this week America made history with two consecutive jackpots. In January 2021 lotto fever was keeping the cold out of the winter winds as Mega Millions and Powerball both, by extreme odds, won back to back in 2 days, making it the largest payout week of all time. Looking back, we analysed how this happened and the lucky stats that brought it all to pass.
What came first, the Mega Millions or the Powerball?
This time last year, as both jackpots crept higher and higher, we were glued to our selected screens about which draw would finally trip a win. With a combined value of $1,736 billion dollars, the stakes couldn’t be higher in the week starting the 17th of January. On Thursday, however, we finally got at least part of the answer.
Powerball tapped out on Thursday 20th January 2021 at a whopping $731.1 million. After four months of it, rising draw after draw, this game became the 4th biggest Powerball record of all time.
20th January 2021 – Powerball Main Numbers 40 – 53 – 60 – 68 – 69 and Powerball Bonus 22
It comes as the latest of high-value jackpots surpassed only by three other winners. $1.586 billion on 13th January 2016, $768.4 million on 27th March 2019 and $758.7 million on 23rd August 2017.
The entire pool went to a single ticket and the jackpot landed in Maryland and set a record for the largest winning ticket in the state. The winner didn’t come forward immediately, leaving many to wonder who the lucky winner could be. Unlike some unclaimed tickets, the holder didn’t leave their stub lying in a coat pocket but rather checked their ticket immediately. At first, it was disbelief that prevented an early claim, the ticket holder simply thought they were reading the numbers wrong and went to work. Finally, in May 2021 the prize was claimed anonymously, known only in name as “The Power Pack”. The lucky recipients told Maryland Lottery officials they have no plans to change their way of life, saying they would like to invest the money, take care of their families and make a positive impact on their communities. Maryland Lottery winners have 182 days after the drawing date to claim any prize.
The Top 3 Biggest Powerball Jackpots
|
Tennesse, Florida & California |
US $1.586 billion |
04 – 08 – 19 – 27 – 34 + 10 |
13th January 2016 |
|
Wisconsin |
US $768.4 million |
16 – 20 – 37 – 44 – 62 + 12 |
27th March 2019 |
|
Massachusetts |
US $758.7 million |
06 – 07 – 16 – 23 – 26 + 04 |
23rd August 2017 |
The Surprise Jackpot 2 Days Later!
On the 22nd of January 2021 people were still buzzing about the Powerball win and who the lucky winner could be, but on that cold Saturday evening another jackpot came out that was even bigger and better than the one achieved two days earlier.
Mega Millions stunned everyone with their $1 billion dollar jackpot, making it the third-largest jackpot in history around the world. It is the second greatest jackpot ever seen by Mega Millions, beaten only by the world-famous South Carolina draw, worth $1.537 billion and sold to a single ticket on 23rd October 2018.
22nd January 2021 – Mega Millions Main Numbers 4 – 26 – 42 – 50 – 60 and MegaBall Bonus 24
The draw was made at 11 p.m. but it wasn’t until the following morning that the story of the winning ticket started to unfold. It began with breakfast, but a phone call from a family friend diverted attention from the morning bacon. The call was actually about the winning draw, saying that on the news, the ticket had been sold nearby. The ticket was uncovered and checked, the family realising they held the golden prize. The bacon was burnt in the whirlwind, while the family scrambled to contact a lawyer to advise them on what to do next.
The family had purchased the tickets as part of a friendship group, and the $1.05 billion dollar jackpot was shared amongst this band of brothers. The lawyer they contacted was the one to claim the prize on their behalf so that the team stayed anonymous in order to enjoy their new lifestyle in peace. The prize was collected on behalf of the “Wolverine FLL Club”, a club that was jointly beloved by the group. The winners contacted a Florida-based tax attorney who was known to help those that had won the lottery, who advised them on various aspects of wealth as they take on millionaire status.
“To get a phone call from a group that won a billion within 12 hours of their win is a remarkable point of my career,” Panouses admitted whilst accepting the prize from the Michigan lottery. “This group did their own research and engaged to assist in this process.”
$1.537 Billion
23/10/2018
1 Winner South Carolina
$1.05 Billion
22/01/2021
1 Winner Michigan
$656 Million
30/03/2012
3 Winners Illinois/Kansas/Maryland
$648 Million
17/12/2013
2 Winners California/Georgia
$543 Million
24/07/2018
1 Winner California
$536 Million
08/07/2016
1 Winner Indiana
$533 Million
30/07/2018
1 Winner New Jersey
$522 Million
07/06/2019
1 Winner California
$516 Million
21/05/2021
1 Winner Pennsylvannia
$451 Million
05/01/2018
1 Winner Florida
One year on, it is incredible to think that these two lotteries came together in the same week. Since this landmark period came to pass, Powerball has added another draw date since that point, bringing the total to 3 different days to play every week. Officials stated that this update to the American game would ensure even more big winners, more often.