It is generally considered that Spain’s Sorteo Extraordinario de Navidad (Spanish Christmas Lottery) is the world’s largest lottery and has the largest first prize jackpot. In 2012, the main jackpot was €720 million (US$941.8 million). The total prize pool in 2012 was €2.52 billion (US$3.297 billion). The 2011 main jackpot of €720 million was paid out as €4 million (US$5.2 million) to each of the 180 tickets with the number 58268.

But in terms of the biggest lottery winners, here is a comprehensive list.

The top 10 from smallest to biggest.

10) $337 million Powerball, won on 15 August 2012, in Michigan. Cash payout $223.7 million.

9) $338 million Powerball, won 23 March 2013, New Jersey; Pedro Quezada, from Paterson. $152 million cash.

8) $340 million Powerball, won 19 October 2005; in Oregon.[2] Cash payout, $164.4 million, was split by two families

7) $363 million The Big Game (precursor of Mega Millions), won on 9 May 2000, two tickets: Illinois and Michigan.

6) $365 million Powerball, won 18 February 2006; Nebraska. $177 million cash.

5) $380 million Mega Millions, won on 4 January 2011, two tickets: Holly Lahti of Rathdrum, Idaho; and Jim and Carolyn McCullar of Ephrata, Washington. Cash payout $240 million;

4) $390 million Mega Millions, won on 6 March 2007, two tickets: Georgia and New Jersey. Cash payout $233.1 million, fifth largest cash payout in American lottery history.

3) $587.5 million Powerball, won on 28 November 2012, two tickets: Arizona and Missouri: Cash payout $384.7 million; both amounts third-largest in American lottery history.

2) $590.5 million Powerball, won on 18 May 2013, Gloria McKenzie of Zephyrhills, Florida, world record for largest single prize. Cash payout 370.9 Million.

1) $656 million Mega Millions, won on 30 March 2012, split by three tickets: Kansas, Illinois, and Maryland. Cash payout $474 million. That’s R4.7 billion.

   

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[info courtesy wikipedia]