The Biggest Lottery Wins in United States History

Jean Mayes of Crawfordsville, Indiana, won in 2026 after her Powerball ticket matched the five white balls in the April 29 drawing. A retiree who enjoyed cooking, baking, family time, and playing Hoosier Lottery games, she made Powerball part of her regular Wednesday-and-Saturday routine.

By the next day, Mayes was already at the Hoosier Lottery Prize Payment Office in Indianapolis with her two sons. Because she added Power Play, the usual $1 million second-tier prize doubled to $2 million. Even without public spending plans, that kind of money could cover a home, family gifts, medical costs, and long-term retirement security.