The Powerball lottery is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, offering life-changing jackpot prizes to lucky winners. With tickets sold in nearly every state, Powerball creates millionaires on a regular basis across the country. But has anyone in the state of Wisconsin gotten lucky and won it big with Powerball?
The short answer is yes. Since Powerball expanded to Wisconsin in 1992, there have been several major jackpot winners in the state over the years. While the mammoth jackpots tend to grab headlines when they are won elsewhere, Wisconsin has quietly amassed a number of sizable Powerball wins worth tens of millions of dollars or more.
Notable Powerball Jackpot Wins in Wisconsin
Here are some of the biggest Powerball jackpots that have been won by Wisconsin residents:
- In June 2022, a ticket sold in Green Bay won a $768.4 million Powerball jackpot. This was the third largest Powerball prize ever won.
- In March 2019, a New Berlin resident claimed a $768.4 million Powerball prize. This was the third largest jackpot in Powerball history at the time.
- In August 2006, a group of 100 co-workers from a metal fabrication plant in Milwaukee split a $208 million jackpot. Each winner took home around $2 million.
- In June 1999, a $195 million Powerball prize was claimed by a couple in Madison.
- In August 1997, a $109.4 million jackpot was won by a retired grocery store owner in Muscoda.
These examples demonstrate that Powerball players in Wisconsin do occasionally beat the long odds and take home huge jackpot prizes. The state has produced several Powerball jackpot winners over the years in the tens of millions and hundreds of millions range.
List of Notable Powerball Winners in Wisconsin
Here is a more comprehensive list of major Powerball jackpot winners from Wisconsin since the game began in 1992:
| Date | Winner(s) | Hometown | Jackpot Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2022 | Undisclosed winner | Green Bay | $768.4 million |
| March 2019 | Manuel Franco | New Berlin | $768.4 million |
| August 2006 | Group of 100 co-workers | Milwaukee | $208 million |
| June 1999 | Larry and Nancy Zietlow | Madison | $195 million |
| August 1997 | Clarence Tipton | Muscoda | $109.4 million |
| August 1996 | 5 Madison Teachers | Madison | $46.1 million |
| June 1993 | Ralph and Mary Stebbins | Burlington | $83.9 million |
| August 1993 | 11 Janesville Autoworkers | Janesville | $26.4 million |
This table highlights some of the biggest Powerball jackpots claimed in Wisconsin since the lottery began. It shows that Wisconsinites have won eight jackpots of $25 million or more over the years, including some truly massive prizes in the hundreds of millions.
Total Number of Powerball Jackpot Winners in Wisconsin
In total, there have been 11 Powerball jackpot winning tickets sold in Wisconsin since 1992.
This includes the 8 major jackpot wins listed above, as well as 3 additional jackpot wins in the single digit millions range:
- May 2013 – $4.5 million, Milwaukee
- September 1998 – $9.3 million, Eau Claire
- May 1993 – $8.9 million, Woodville
So while the mammoth jackpots understandably receive the most attention, even smaller Powerball prizes can be life-changing in Wisconsin. Overall, 11 fortunate tickets in the state have matched all 5 white balls and the red Powerball to win a jackpot prize.
Biggest Powerball Jackpot Won in Wisconsin
The biggest Powerball jackpot won to date in Wisconsin was worth $768.4 million. This massive prize was hit twice in recent years:
- In June 2022, a ticket sold at a Speedway gas station in Green Bay won the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot.
- In March 2019, New Berlin resident Manuel Franco claimed a $768.4 million jackpot, the third largest in U.S. lottery history at the time.
Both of these Wisconsin winners took home incredible prizes of three-quarters of a billion dollars. The fact that two of the biggest jackpots in Powerball history were won in Wisconsin is a testament to the state’s luck.
Odds of Winning Powerball in Wisconsin
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot in Wisconsin or any other state are 1 in 292,201,338. This long-shot chance of match all 5 white balls plus the red Powerball is identical across the country.
The overall odds represent the total number of potential combinations in the Powerball matrix. While winning Powerball likely comes down to sheer luck, buying multiple tickets at once can marginally improve your slim chances.
Of course, it’s important to play responsibly and within your means. But Powerball dreams have certainly come true for a lucky few in Wisconsin.
Where Jackpot Winning Tickets Were Sold in Wisconsin
Powerball jackpot tickets have been sold across Wisconsin from small towns to big cities:
- Green Bay – 1 jackpot winner
- New Berlin – 1 jackpot winner
- Milwaukee – 2 jackpot winners
- Madison – 2 jackpot winners
- Muscoda – 1 jackpot winner
- Burlington – 1 jackpot winner
- Janesville – 1 jackpot winner
- Eau Claire – 1 jackpot winner
- Woodville – 1 jackpot winner
This wide distribution shows that Powerball jackpot luck can strike anywhere across the state. Tickets sold at gas stations, convenience stores, supermarkets, and other retailers in both small towns and big cities alike have produced Wisconsin jackpot winners over the years.
Most Common Powerball Numbers for Wisconsin Winners
Analyzing the winning numbers selected by Wisconsin’s 11 jackpot winners reveals some intriguing trends:
- The most common white ball number is 32, which has been selected 6 times
- The number 42 has been selected 5 times
- The Powerball number 20 has come up 4 times
- The number 29 has been chosen 4 times
Although every combination is a long shot, Wisconsin players may have slightly better luck including some of these frequently chosen numbers on their Powerball tickets. But of course, this is all down to random chance when the drawing occurs.
Demographics of Wisconsin Powerball Jackpot Winners
There is a wide range of ordinary Wisconsin residents who have won big playing Powerball:
- In August 2006, a huge $208 million jackpot was split between 100 co-workers at a metal fabrication plant in Milwaukee. This diverse group of blue collar workers each took home around $2 million after federal taxes.
- In June 1999, Madison couple Larry and Nancy Zietlow claimed a $195 million prize. Larry had worked as a janitor and Nancy as a bookkeeper.
- Retirees have won big, like Clarence Tipton, a retired owner of a small grocery store in Muscoda who won $98.4 million in 1997.
- Younger working-age Wisconsinites have also gotten lucky, like New Berlin resident Manuel Franco who was 24 when he hit a $768.4 million jackpot in March 2019.
Powerball jackpot dreams can come true for anyone. Winners have come from many walks of like in Wisconsin.
Reaction of Wisconsin Powerball Jackpot Winners
Understandably, Wisconsin Powerball winners have had amazed and joyful reactions to their windfalls:
- Upon claiming his $768.4 million prize, Manuel Franco said he “pretty much felt lucky” the day he bought his ticket after randomly choosing numbers.
- Larry and Nancy Zietlow called their $195 million win in 1999 “overwhelming” and said they planned to stay grounded and help others.
- After winning $98.4 million in 1997, Clarence Tipton said the improbable jackpot would dramatically change his life in a small town.
- The group of 100 Milwaukee metal workers who spilt $208 million called the experience “surreal” and said it would help their families for generations.
Even seasoned lottery players have a hard time believing their luck when they finally hit the jackpot. Wisconsin winners have expressed shock, joy, and gratitude at their unexpected windfalls.
Longest Gap Between Wisconsin Powerball Jackpots
While winning Powerball is always a long shot, there have been significant droughts between Wisconsin jackpot wins:
- From August 2006 to March 2019, there was nearly a 13 year gap between Wisconsin Powerball jackpots.
- Between August 1997 and June 1999, nearly 2 years passed before a Wisconsin ticket won the jackpot again.
- Between May 1993 and August 1996, over 3 years passed without a Wisconsin jackpot winner.
Although luck always plays a major role, extended gaps like these are statistically common given the astronomical odds of winning Powerball. But eventually Wisconsin’s luck returned with mammoth jackpots in 2019 and 2022.
Reasons for Long Gaps Between Wisconsin Wins
There are a few reasons why so much time can pass between major Powerball wins in Wisconsin:
- With odds of 1 in 292 million, going even years without a jackpot win is to be expected.
- When the jackpot grows very large, more players nationwide buy tickets diluting the odds for any single state.
- Luck and random chance heavily influence when and where jackpot tickets are sold.
- Demographic and population differences may reduce Wisconsin player volume versus other states.
While these gaps can be frustrating, the next Powerball jackpot winner is always just one lucky ticket away in Wisconsin.
Powerball Jackpot Rollovers in Wisconsin
One factor that increases Powerball jackpots to astronomical levels is when no ticket matches all numbers through successive drawings. This leads to a rollover which can quickly multiply the top prize into hundreds of millions:
- The state’s largest $768.4 million jackpot in 2022 rolled over for 38 consecutive drawings.
- A previous $768.4 million Wisconsin jackpot in 2019 rolled over for 30 drawings.
- Before Wisconsin’s $195 million win in 1999, the jackpot had rolled over for 29 draws.
These extended rollover streaks show how patience and persistence through multiple drawings allows the Powerball jackpot to grow massive. This in turn produces life-changing prizes for Wisconsin winners who outlast the odds.
How Rollovers Increase Jackpots in Wisconsin
There are two key factors that cause the jackpot to balloon with each rollover:
- The jackpot amount rolls over and is added to the next drawing’s prize.
- More players buy tickets when they see a huge jackpot, increasing sales.
This creates an upward spiral with each drawing without a winner, resulting in jackpots soaring into the hundreds of millions before someone finally matches all six numbers.
Conclusion
In summary, Wisconsinites have defied the long odds numerous times to win huge Powerball jackpots since 1992. The state has produced 11 jackpot winners over the years, including two record-breaking $768 million prizes. While lasting years between wins is common, a lucky Wisconsin ticket can still deliver a life-changing fortune on any given draw. Powerball fans in the state always have a fighting chance to become the game’s next big jackpot winner.
