PENNSYLVANIA - Pennsylvania has a long history of big lottery wins, with hundreds of millions of dollars generated annually to benefit the state's older residents. While the Powerball game has produced many massive winners, the state’s largest individual lottery prize came from its rival multi-state game, Mega Millions.
PENNSYLVANIA - Pennsylvania has a long history of big lottery wins, with hundreds of millions of dollars generated annually to benefit the state's older residents. While the Powerball game has produced many massive winners, the state’s largest individual lottery prize came from its rival multi-state game, Mega Millions.The record-holder for the largest lottery prize ever awarded in the Commonwealth is a single ticket worth over half a billion dollars.
The Record-Breaking Win: $516 Million Mega Millions
In May 2021, Pennsylvania witnessed its most significant lottery moment when a single ticket matched all six numbers for the Mega Millions jackpot.
- Total Prize Value (Annuity): $516 Million
- Cash Option Value: $349.3 Million (before taxes)
- Winner: A five-member group from the Philadelphia region.
The winning group chose the lump-sum cash option, receiving a stunning $254,233,980 after federal withholding, which was the final payout value for their share.
The Lucky Location: Levittown, Bucks County
The winning ticket was sold in the heart of Bucks County, instantly elevating a local convenience store to legendary status.
- Retailer: 7-Eleven
- Address: 2700 block of Trenton Road, Levittown, PA
- For selling the winning ticket, the 7-Eleven store received a $100,000 bonus from the Pennsylvania Lottery. The win cemented the store's reputation as one of the "luckiest" retailers in the high-traffic Philadelphia metro area.
The Winners: Peace of Mind Trust
The winners chose to remain anonymous, claiming the colossal prize through a legal entity known as the Peace of Mind Trust. This decision highlights a growing trend among massive jackpot winners to use trusts to manage their sudden wealth, provide privacy, and handle the financial and legal complexities associated with such a large sum.
The Previous Powerball Record
The 2021 Mega Millions victory easily surpassed Pennsylvania's most significant previous jackpot win, which was claimed from the other major multi-state game:
- Previous Record: $456.7 Million Powerball (Annuity Value)
- Date: March 2018
- Location Sold: Manheim, Lancaster County (claimed by the Emerald Legacy Trust).
The $516 million Mega Millions jackpot did not just break the record; it firmly established the prize as the most significant individual lottery win in Pennsylvania history, setting a new benchmark for dreams in the Keystone State.
