Louisiana Residents Eye $461 Million Powerball Jackpot

SHREVEPORT, LA - The Powerball drawing for tonight (Monday March 24) is climbing to nearly a half a billion dollars. If you are like me, you are already starting to dream about how you would spend the big money. The jackpot is now worth $461 million. The lump sum cash payout is $217 million.

This monster prize is not yet in the top 25 largest jackpots of all time, but it's getting close.

In my dreams, I would buy a beautiful condo at the beach. It would have to have an east facing balcony (I like to watch the sunrise). It also needs to have a hot tub and a grill on the balcony. I'm pretty specific about what I want. This condo needs to be directly on the beach with a beautiful outdoor pool plus an indoor pool. I also have to have covered parking.

My plan is to also give away lots of the money. My immediate family members would be getting hefty checks. I also have a list of friends and co-workers who will be getting a million bucks each. Please don't ask if you are on my list. You should already know.

Here’s a list of the top 25 prizes from Powerball and Mega Millions:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball was won by one ticket in California on November 8, 2022.
2. $1.765 billion Powerball won by one winning ticket in California on October 11, 2023.
3. $1.602 Mega Millions August 8, 2023 won by one ticket in Florida.
4. $1.586 billion Powerball January 13, 2016. There were 3 winning tickets for this prize. These tickets were purchased in Tennessee, Florida, and California. Each had the option to take a lump sum of $327.8 million.
5. $1.537 billion Mega Millions October 2018. There was one winning ticket purchased in South Carolina. The ticket was sold at a KC Mart convenience store in the town of Simpsonville.
6. $1.348 billion Mega Millions won by one ticket on January 13, 2023. That ticket was sold in Maine.
7. $1.337 billion Mega Millions was won by one ticket in Illinois on July 29, 2022.
8. $1.33 billion Powerball drawing April 7, 2024 won by one ticket in Oregon. Cheng Saephan is the lucky winner.
9. $1.22 billion Mega Millions ticket was sold in Cottonwood, California.
10. $1.13 billion Mega Millions was sold in New Jersey.
11. $1.08 Billion Powerball was won by one ticket in California on July 19, 2023.
12. $1.05 billion Mega Millions was won by the Wolverine FLL Club of Oakland County, Michigan in January of 2021.
13. $842.4 million Powerball won by a single ticket in Michigan on January 1, 2024.
14. $800 million Powerball is up for grabs on Monday, March 25, 2024. The lump sum payout is $384 million.
15. $768.4 million, Powerball won by a single ticket in Wisconsin. Cash: $477 million.
16. $758 million, Powerball won August 24, 2018, by Mavis Wanczyk of Massachusetts. She chose the lump sum payment of $480 million.
17. $699 million, Powerball won on October 4, 2021 in California. The ticket was sold at an Albertson’s grocery store.
18. $687.8 million, Powerball won Oct. 27, 2018. There were two winning tickets. One in Iowa and another in New York.
19. $656 million, Mega Millions, won March 30, 2012, by three tickets, sold in Maryland, Illinois and Kansas. Cash: $471 million
20. $648 million, Mega Millions, won Dec. 17, 2013, in Georgia and California. Cash: $347.6 million.
21. $630 Million Powerball Wednesday, January 5, 2022. Two winning tickets, one in California and one in Wisconsin will split the jackpot.
22. $590.5 million, Powerball, won May 18, 2013, in Florida. Cash: $370.9 million.
23. $587.5 million, Powerball, won Nov. 28, 2012, by two tickets, sold in Missouri and Arizona. Cash: $384.7 million
24. $564 million, Powerball jackpot was won by one ticket in New Hampshire in the drawing on Saturday, January 6, 2018.
25. $559.7 million Powerball, A single ticket was sold at Reeds Ferry Market in Merrimack, NH. The winning ticket holder wants to remain anonymous.
26. $543 million Mega Millions. There was one winning ticket sold in California in the July 2018 drawing.
27. $536 million Mega Millions, a single ticket was sold in Indiana on July 8, 2016.