Recent big lottery winners

Just imagine having a small piece of paper with the right numbers printed on it and you win the huge jackpot. Well, if that small piece of paper makes you substantially wealthier, then your life will change for the better, one would think.

We do not need scientific proof that lottery winners are much happier and satisfied with their life than those who lost.

In reality, the odds are against you, but then again someone has to win, so why wouldn`t that person be you. This train of thought makes so many people participate in Mega Millions or Powerball contest, hoping they will be the ones that will guess all the numbers and end up with the huge amount of money that almost every state lottery is offering.

Winning the lottery is a huge deal. Different people have different reactions, but in general, this life changing moment can bring either stress or excitement in your life and lead you to rash decisions. Once you find out that you are the lucky winner of that huge jackpot, we advise you to take a deep breath and hire some specialist who will do the thinking for you.

At least now you can afford a financial adviser, a tax specialist, and even an attorney. In general, they will help you plan your future and make smart financial decisions.

What you need to remember is that the money you have won and the money you will take home are two very different numbers. Before you can cash your ticket, remember the prize money is taxed, so your government will take their fair share. The percentage they will collect depends on the country where you bought the ticket and whether you are resident or not.

Some states want to present the lottery winners in front of the camera because that way they show that the games are fair and real and at the same time to encourage people to buy more lottery tickets. Lately some states allow lottery winners to remain anonymous and protect their privacy.

Let`s see what the biggest lottery winners have been up to, how much money they have won and whether the jackpot changed their life in a good way.

Jackpot winners in 2019

• • Margo K., $2 million, February 2019

Margo wanted to treat herself with a Powerball ticket for her birthday and she ended up with a really nice present we must admit. She won $2 million, before taxes, but she tries to keep her private life out of the media and the world. So we cannot say what she has done with the money so far and how she enjoys her new wealth.

• • Manuel Franco, $768.4 million Powerball Jackpot Winner, March 2019

Manuel Franco is the single winner of the second biggest Powerball jackpot ever to be won. He purchased the lottery ticket in Wisconsin and he took $326 million at home after taxes.
Jackpot winners in 2018

• • Shane Missler, $451 Million Mega Millions Jackpot, January 2018

The moment Shane Missler found out that he is the lucky winner of the huge MegaMillions jackpot he shared the news on social media. Immediately he found himself in the middle of a Twitter scam. He bought 5 tickets in Pasco County, Florida and one of them matched all six numbers. He decided to take a lump sum and after taxes, he had $282 million on his name.

He wasn`t scared after the scam, and he continued to share his life on his social media. If you want to know how he spends his money you can follow him on his Instagram and we must say this person really knows how to enjoy life and enjoy his new fortune by leading an extravagant and luxurious lifestyle.

• • Roland Reyes, $543M, July 2018

Roland Reyes suggested to his co-workers to buy tickets when he realized how large the jackpot had ballooned. So, they joined together to buy tickets at $2 apiece in San Jose, California. Even though they had to split the reward between 11 people, still that was the largest prize for a single California Lottery ticket. The decision to buy the ticket seems to be a spur of the moment, but it definitely changed their life forever.

• • Mavis L. Wanczyk, $758.7M, August 2018

The first thing that Mavis L. Wanczyk from Chicopee, Massachusetts, did after she received her reward was quit her job. She called her employer at Mercy Medical Center where she used to work for 32 years and told them that she is not coming back to work anymore. We must admit this was a very bold decision, but she can afford it.

Jackpot winners in 2017

• • Aura Dominguez Canto, $30 Million Florida Lotto Jackpot Winner, August 2017

Aura Dominguez Canto played the lotto out of need. She didn`t need the rush and excitement of gambling but she needed the money to support her family.

She played for a whole month before she finally won and took home a lump sum payment of $20.9 million. After she won the money she decided to stay out of the public eye, so we know nothing about her, and what she did in her life. But one thing is for sure, her kids will never have to worry about money again.

• • Anonymous winner from Spain, 190M, October 2017

Until today, the highest amount won in EuroMillions is 190M, and it has been won twice, in 2012 in England and in 2017 in Spain. The later winner bought their ticket on the popular holiday island Grand Canaria. It is not known whether the lucky winner is a local or one of the 3 million tourists that come to the island every year.

Jackpot winners in 2016

Sometimes it is possible for different ticket holders to hit the jackpot. This is what happened back in 2016 when 3 different ticket holders claimed the reward and they had to share a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot in January 2016. Let`s see who these people are.

• • John and Lisa Robinson

John and Lisa Robinson are a couple from Munford, Tennessee. They decided to take the lump sum and got $327.8 million before taxes. The other two couples did the same thing.

After they won the lottery they tried to keep their life private. Lisa even went back to work but was not treated so well from her jealous co-workers. Now they live on a 320 acre lot and have some of the best views of Tennessee, a private lake, and a well equipped home theater.

• • Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt

Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt are a couple from Florida that still buys lottery tickets. After the win, almost nothing changed in their lives. They stayed in their home in Florida and the only thing they splurged on were new cars, Tesla, and an SUV.

• Marvin and Mae Acosta

Marvin and Mae Acosta are another couple that wanted to keep their privacy after they won the lottery. They had to deal with different scammers who tried to take advantage of their money once they shared the news that they wanted to create a charity.