The Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, with jackpots that can climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Players select five main numbers between 1 and 69, and one Powerball number between 1 and 26. To win the jackpot, a player must match all six numbers.
The game is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association and is available in 45 states, including Massachusetts. Since the Massachusetts State Lottery began offering Powerball in 2010, there have been several notable jackpot winners from the state.
Has Anyone in Massachusetts Ever Won the Powerball Jackpot?
Yes, there have been Powerball jackpot winners from Massachusetts. In fact, over the years, Bay State residents have claimed some massive top prizes in the popular lottery game.
Here is a look at the biggest Powerball jackpots won by players who purchased their tickets in Massachusetts:
| Winner | Jackpot | Date Won |
|---|---|---|
| Mavis Wanczyk | $758.7 million | August 23, 2017 |
| Anonymous | $336 million | February 11, 2020 |
As the table shows, two Powerball jackpots worth over $300 million have been won in Massachusetts. Let’s take a closer look at each of these record-breaking prizes.
Mavis Wanczyk – $758.7 Million
In August 2017, Mavis Wanczyk became the biggest lottery winner in Massachusetts history when she claimed a $758.7 million Powerball prize. At the time, it was the largest grand prize won by a single ticket holder in U.S. lottery history.
Wanczyk, who worked at a hospital in Chicopee, bought her lucky quick pick ticket for the August 23 drawing at the Pride Station & Store in Chicopee. The winning numbers that night were 6-7-16-23-26, Powerball 4.
“I had a pipe dream and my pipe dream has finally come true,” the 53-year-old told reporters at a press conference after claiming her record prize. She chose to take the lump sum option, bringing home $336 million after taxes.
Wanczyk quit her job and decided to enjoy retirement, telling media that she had “lots of interests.” Her jackpot remains the largest lottery prize ever won in New England.
Anonymous Winner – $336 Million
In February 2020, a Powerball ticket sold in Sutton, MA, matched all six numbers to win a $336 million jackpot. The lucky ticket was purchased at Hometown Gas & Grill in Sutton for the February 11 drawing.
The winner beat odds of 1 in 292.2 million to hit the jackpot. The winning numbers that night were 24-25-52-60-66, Powerball 5.
Unlike Mavis Wanczyk, the Sutton jackpot winner chose to keep their identity private when claiming the $336 million prize. The winner took the cash option, collecting a one-time payment of $235 million before taxes.
At the time, it was the 7th largest lottery prize ever won in the United States. It remains the 2nd biggest Massachusetts lottery win behind Wanczyk’s 2017 Powerball victory.
Other Notable Powerball Wins in Massachusetts
In addition to the two record jackpots above, there have been several other major Powerball winners who bought their tickets in the Bay State:
- In March 2019, a Powerball ticket worth $150 million was sold at the Stop & Shop supermarket in East Bridgewater. The winner claimed the prize anonymously.
- In August 2020, a $116 million Powerball prize was won with a ticket purchased at D&R Convenience Plus in Chicopee. It was claimed by the Snay Trust.
- In June 2021, Dennis Wilson, a former security officer, won a $16 million Powerball prize with a ticket from Pride Station & Store in Chicopee.
- In January 2022, the Pour House Trust claimed a $21 million Powerball prize from a ticket bought at Partner’s Food Mart in Plymouth.
As these wins demonstrate, it’s possible to win big playing Powerball in Massachusetts, even if you don’t take home the jackpot. There are smaller prizes ranging from $4 to $1 million.
Which Massachusetts Retailers Have Sold Winning Powerball Tickets?
Certain lottery retailers in Massachusetts have proven luckier than others when it comes to selling major winning Powerball tickets.
Here are the stores that have sold jackpot-winning tickets and other sizable prizes of $1 million or more:
| Retailer | Location | Prizes Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Pride Station & Store | Chicopee | Jackpot, $16 million |
| Hometown Gas & Grill | Sutton | Jackpot |
| Partner’s Food Mart | Plymouth | $21 million |
| Stop & Shop | East Bridgewater | $150 million |
| D&R Convenience Plus | Chicopee | $116 million |
As shown above, Pride Station in Chicopee and Hometown Gas & Grill in Sutton stand out, having sold the two Powerball jackpots won in Massachusetts. Certain Stop & Shop, Partner’s Food Mart, and D&R Convenience Plus locations have also brought big Powerball wins to their customers.
Of course, any lottery retailer in Massachusetts has the potential to sell a life-changing jackpot-winning ticket. Some stores have just been luckier so far.
Which Massachusetts Cities Have the Most Powerball Jackpot Winners?
Two cities stand out when it comes to producing Powerball jackpot winners in Massachusetts:
Chicopee
With two major jackpot wins and a $16 million prize sold within its city limits, Chicopee has proven the luckiest Powerball city in Massachusetts. Tickets sold here have racked up over $1 billion in winnings.
Both record jackpots – Mavis Wanczyk’s $758.7 million and the anonymous $116 million – were won with tickets purchased at Chicopee retailers. The city clearly has an outsized record of Powerball success.
Sutton
Though much smaller than Chicopee, the town of Sutton hit the lottery map in 2020 when it sold a $336 million Powerball jackpot-winning ticket at Hometown Gas & Grill. With just one major winner, Sutton can’t match Chicopee’s overall winning tally, but it did bring home Massachusetts’ 2nd largest prize.
No other cities in Massachusetts have produced multiple jackpot winners thus far. However, a number of towns and cities have sold Powerball tickets worth $1 million or more over the years.
How Does Massachusetts Powerball Winning Compare to Other States?
Despite some notable jackpots, Massachusetts is far from the luckiest state when it comes to winning massive Powerball prizes.
Looking at the top 10 biggest Powerball jackpots of all time, here is how many were sold in each state:
| State | Mega Jackpots Sold |
|---|---|
| California | 3 |
| Florida | 2 |
| Indiana | 1 |
| Maryland | 1 |
| Massachusetts | 1 |
| Michigan | 1 |
| South Carolina | 1 |
California leads the pack with 3 of the 10 largest Powerball prizes sold within state borders, including the current world record $1.586 billion jackpot from January 2016. Florida ranks second with 2 jackpot wins.
Massachusetts can claim just 1 of the 10 biggest Powerball jackpots, on par with Michigan, Maryland, Indiana, and South Carolina.
However, Massachusetts has been relatively lucky compared to much more populous states like Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania that have yet to sell a jackpot-winning Powerball ticket worth over $300 million.
What are the 10 Biggest Powerball Jackpots Won in Massachusetts?
Though Powerball has only created two jackpot winners in Massachusetts, those two Bay State prizes rank as the #1 and #2 largest ever in the state.
Here are the official 10 biggest Powerball jackpots won by Massachusetts players:
| Amount | Winner | Retailer | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| $758.7 million | Mavis Wanczyk | Pride Station & Store | August 2017 |
| $336 million | Anonymous | Hometown Gas & Grill | February 2020 |
| $150 million | Anonymous | Stop & Shop | March 2019 |
| $116 million | Snay Trust | D&R Convenience Plus | August 2020 |
| $21 million | Pour House Trust | Partner’s Food Mart | January 2022 |
| $16 million | Dennis Wilson | Pride Station & Store | June 2021 |
| $10 million | Anonymous | N/A | May 2017 |
| $4 million | John Hammill | N/A | February 2020 |
| $2 million | N/A | Cumberland Farms | January 2022 |
| $1 million | Richard Kaminski | Pride Station & Store | March 2017 |
As shown, outside of the two jackpots, most of Massachusetts’ biggest prizes have ranged from $1 million to $150 million. Multiple winners have chosen to remain anonymous when claiming their substantial Powerball prizes.
Has Powerball Changed the Lives of Massachusetts Winners?
Winning hundreds of millions in Powerball can dramatically change someone’s life overnight. The two biggest Massachusetts winners are prime examples.
Mavis Wanczyk
After her record $758.7 million windfall, Mavis Wanczyk was able to retire early from her job as a hospital worker. In interviews, she said she planned to relax, travel, and live simply.
“I want to sit back and enjoy it,” she told reporters at the time. Wanczyk purchased a new home but otherwise kept a low profile after her big win.
Anonymous $336 Million Winner
The winner of the $336 million Sutton jackpot in 2020 has never come forward publicly. However, the massive prize no doubt provided financial freedom and flexibility.
Powerball winners often pay off debt, help family, make investments, travel, and pursue hobbies after big lottery scores. $300+ million guarantees lifetime security.
Smaller Prize Winners
Even those who win smaller Powerball prizes can benefit greatly. Dennis Wilson was working as a security officer until his $16 million windfall in 2021 allowed him to retire early and “move up a couple tax brackets.” The $116 million Snay Trust and $21 million Pour House Trust likely used their prizes to support charitable causes.
Across the board, Powerball has been a financial game-changer for Bay Staters lucky enough to hit it big.
What are the Odds of Winning Powerball in Massachusetts?
The odds of winning any Powerball prize in Massachusetts are about 1 in 24.9. The odds of taking home the jackpot are a very slim 1 in 292 million.
Here are the official odds for all the prize tiers, from the Massachusetts Lottery:
| Prize Amount | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|
| Match 5 + Powerball Jackpot | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| $1 million | 1 in 11,688,053.5 |
| $50,000 | 1 in 913,129 |
| $100 | 1 in 91.9 |
| Any prize | 1 in 24.9 |
As you can see, hitting the jackpot or secondary $1 million prize requires immense luck. But the chances of winning a smaller amount, like $100, are more reasonable. Powerball players have about a 1 in 25 shot at any prize in Massachusetts.
Across the U.S., the current record $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot had odds of 1 in 292.2 million. So Bay State players face similar incredibly long odds playing for massive prizes.
How Often Does a Player from Massachusetts Win Powerball?
Looking at the history of Powerball, a player from Massachusetts wins the jackpot approximately once every 5-10 years. There have been only two winners since the game began in 2010.
Here are the key stats:
- Games played in Massachusetts since 2010 launch: Around 1,400
- Jackpots won: 2
- Jackpots won per year: ~0.15
For lower tier prizes, Massachusetts players have much better luck. For example, there have been over 1,800 winners of $1 million or more in the state. Prizes of $100,000 or more hit about once every 5-10 draws.
So while jackpots are scarce, smaller Powerball winnings are frequent for Bay Staters playing multiple tickets. Millions of lower-tier prizes have been won in Massachusetts over the years.
Where Does Powerball Money Go in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, revenue from Powerball ticket sales is allocated to these state beneficiaries:
- Prizes – 65%
- State General Fund – 26%
- Retailer Commissions – 6%
- Lottery Operations – 3%
Money directed to the State General Fund supports a wide variety of causes across Massachusetts. Powerball revenue helps fund local government needs, social programs, infrastructure, schools, public safety, and more.
So when you play Powerball in Massachusetts, the majority of money spent goes back into state communities and priorities. Since 2010, the game has delivered over $1 billion apiece to the State General Fund and Massachusetts winners.
Key Takeaways
Here are the main points to remember about Powerball winning history in Massachusetts:
- There have been two jackpot wins – $758 million and $336 million
- Chicopee and Sutton each sold a record jackpot ticket
- Lower prizes of up to $150 million have also been won
- Powerball has minted millionaires and funded charities
- Your odds of winning a big prize are around 1 in 11 million
- Jackpots are won every 5-10 years on average
- Powerball revenue supports state causes and programs
While winning Powerball’s top prize is improbable, Massachusetts players have beaten the long odds before. And even smaller prizes can make a major positive impact. For now, the next record jackpot awaits its lucky Massachusetts winner.
