Lottery jackpots have exploded in size over the last decade.
When Powerball launched in 1992, the first jackpot was $5.9 million, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. Now, the largest Powerball jackpot on record was the $2.04 billion prize won on Nov. 7, 2022.
Mega Millions followed a similar path. Its first jackpot winner in 2002 took home $28 million. Its record prize — a $1.602 billion jackpot won on Aug. 8, 2023 — ranks as the fourth-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history.
Twelve out of the 20 largest jackpots have occurred since 2023.
Here are the biggest U.S. jackpot wins:
Only five states don't sell lottery tickets: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.
While the prizes are huge, the odds of winning still remain extremely low. Over the last three

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