How much have jackpot winners made playing the Kentucky Lottery? Here are the top 18
A total of 18 Kentucky Lottery players have won big playing the Powerball, though none have ever won a Mega Millions jackpot in the game’s history.
The grand prize winner for Friday’s Mega Millions drawing, if there is one, will secure a staggering $1.35 billion jackpot. According to a news release from the Kentucky Lottery, it’s the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot and the fourth-largest lottery jackpot ever.
Meanwhile, the cash option for Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot stands at a whopping $707.9 million.
According to the Kentucky Lottery, no one matched all five numbers and the Mega Ball Tuesday, which would’ve won them the $1.1 billion jackpot.
However, Kentucky did have five winners that matched four numbers and the Mega Ball to win the game’s 3rd prize of $10,000.
“There are other great prizes to be won on these jackpot games, in fact there are nine ways to win playing Mega Millions, so always check those tickets,” Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville stated in the release Thursday.
So how does the $1 billion-plus Mega Millions grand prize compare to other Kentucky jackpot winners?
Here’s a look at the top 18 Kentucky Powerball jackpot winners, sourced from the Kentucky Lottery’s website. Note: All Kentucky jackpots listed won via the Powerball.
- Rob Anderson Jr., Georgetown, Ky., Dec. 26, 2009, $128.6 million
- Kent Miller, Madison, Tenn., Jan. 24, 1996, $89.3 million
- Melvin Rhodes and family, Clinton, Tenn., April 19, 2000, $80 million
- David Edwards, Westwood, Ky., Aug. 25, 2001, $73.8 million
- Mack Metcalf, Florence, Ky., and Virginia Metcalf, Dayton, Ky., July 22, 2000, $65.4 million
- Brenda Knopp, Bloomfield, Ky., April 20, 1994, $64.2 million
- The Nukote 22, Bardstown, Ky., Sept. 27, 2007, $61.5 million
- James Christian, Burns, Tenn.; Ronnie Mays, Lavergne, Tenn.; Andy Perry, Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; and Mike Aldrerice, Lewisburg, Tenn., May 27, 2000, $60.6 million
- Andy Davidson, Evansville, Ind., June 18, 1997, $57.5 million
- Richard Barbella, Lexington, Ky., July 20, 2002, $41.5 million
- James and William Draper and Phyllis Newton, LaCenter, Ky., Dec. 16, 1995, $33.7 million
- Linville Huff, Shepherdsville, Ky., Dec. 12, 2007, $33.6 million
- Gwen Howard and Robert Mayton, Calhoun, Ky., Oct. 26, 1996, $28.2 million
- Henry Fugate and Thelma Fourtney, Fisty, Ky., Aug. 13, 1996, $22.9 million
- Muncie Meade, Simpsonville, Ky., Dec. 11, 2010, $19.12 million
- Joe and Lili Anderson, Murray, Ky., June 19, 2002, $14 million
- Alva Osborne, Shepherdsville, Ky., July 16, 2003, $13.5 million
- William and Pearlene McGaughey, Louisville, Ky., Nov. 3, 1999, $5 million
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This story was originally published January 10, 2023 at 5:12 PM.