Powerball is one of the most popular and lucrative lottery games in the United States. The multi-state game is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association and draws occur twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Powerball jackpots start at $40 million and continue growing until someone hits the jackpot. Over the years, there have been many lucky Powerball winners who have scored massive jackpots worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Louisiana joined the Powerball game in 1995, so players in the Pelican State have had over 25 years to try their luck playing Powerball. Louisiana residents have won some impressive Powerball prizes over the years. There have been several jackpot winners from Louisiana who have scored jackpots worth $100 million or more.
List of Powerball jackpot winners from Louisiana
Here is a look at the players from Louisiana who have won Powerball jackpots of $100 million or larger:
- May 2013 – $50 million – Lafayette
- March 2014 – $128.8 million – Mandeville
- May 2017 – $191.1 million – Lafayette
While there have only been three jackpot winners from the state, these big prize winners prove that people from Louisiana definitely can win huge Powerball jackpots.
Details on the 3 big Louisiana Powerball winners
May 2013 – $50 million – Lafayette
In May 2013, a lucky player from Lafayette hit a $50 million Powerball jackpot. The cash value was $27 million. The winner came forward a few weeks later and chose to remain anonymous. The winning ticket was purchased at Billy’s Boudin & Cracklin’ in Scott.
March 2014 – $128.8 million – Mandeville
A married couple from Mandeville won a massive $128.8 million Powerball jackpot in March 2014. Paul and Elsie McDowell held the sole jackpot winning ticket for the March 15th drawing. The cash value was $51 million. The McDowells purchased the Quick Pick ticket from the RaceTrac on Highway 190 in Mandeville.
May 2017 – $191.1 million – Lafayette
The biggest Louisiana Powerball winner hit a $191.1 million jackpot in May 2017. It was the 10th largest Powerball jackpot on record at the time. The cash value was over $114 million. The winner chose to remain anonymous when claiming the prize. The winning ticket was purchased at the Pit Stop convenience store on Ambassador Caffery Parkway in Scott.
Other sizable Powerball wins in Louisiana
In addition to the 3 jackpot winners, there have been many other major Powerball winners from Louisiana:
| Date | Prize | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| August 1999 | $10 million | New Orleans |
| May 2002 | $10 million | Baton Rouge |
| October 2005 | $3.5 million | Covington |
| December 2005 | $40.8 million | Slidell |
| March 2010 | $10 million | Alexandria |
As the table shows, there have been quite a few winners from Louisiana who have scored prizes of $10 million or more over the years. Powerball has made many residents instant millionaires.
Which Louisiana parishes have had the most winners?
Some parishes in Louisiana have had more luck when it comes to winning Powerball prizes:
- Lafayette Parish – 2 jackpot winners
- Orleans Parish – 16 winners of $10,000 or more
- East Baton Rouge Parish – 12 winners of $10,000 or more
- Jefferson Parish – 10 winners of $10,000 or more
- Caddo Parish – 8 winners of $10,000 or more
Lafayette Parish has had the most Powerball success with two jackpot winners. Orleans, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, and Caddo have also produced numerous mid-tier winners over the years.
Which Louisiana cities have had the most winners?
Looking at the data for Powerball winners by city, these Louisiana cities have had the most success:
- New Orleans – 13 Powerball winners
- Baton Rouge – 11 Powerball winners
- Lafayette – 9 Powerball winners
- Shreveport – 7 Powerball winners
- Lake Charles – 5 Powerball winners
New Orleans and Baton Rouge have had the highest numbers of winners, which makes sense given their large populations. But surprisingly, Lafayette has had the 3rd most winners despite its smaller size.
Stores that have sold Louisiana Powerball winners
Certain stores throughout Louisiana have sold more winning Powerball tickets than others. Here are some of the luckiest Powerball retailers in the state:
- Pit Stop, Scott – Sold 2 jackpot winning tickets
- RaceTrac, Mandeville – Sold 1 jackpot ticket
- Billy’s Boudin & Cracklin’, Scott – Sold 1 jackpot ticket
- Huey P’s, Metairie – Sold 3 tickets worth $1 million or more
- Hazel’s Food Mart, Shreveport – Sold 2 tickets worth $1 million or more
The Pit Stop convenience store in Scott has sold the most winning tickets, having sold 2 of the 3 Louisiana jackpot winners. RaceTrac and Billy’s Boudin have also sold big jackpot tickets. When it comes to smaller $1 million+ prizes, Huey P’s in Metairie and Hazel’s Food Mart in Shreveport have been lucky stores.
Has Powerball changed the lives of Louisiana winners?
For the handful of Louisiana residents who have won huge Powerball jackpots, the prize money has absolutely been life-changing. Most jackpot winners end up quitting their jobs and buying new houses. Here’s a look at how some of Louisiana’s biggest winners used their prize money:
- The McDowells from Mandeville used their $128 million prize to buy luxury cars and take exotic vacations. They also set up college funds for their grandchildren.
- The anonymous winner of the $191 million jackpot used some of the cash to pay off bills and make donations to several Louisiana charities.
- A 62-year old Shreveport man used his $1 million prize to do home renovations and take a long-awaited trip to Italy.
Even mid-tier prizes of $1 million to $10 million have allowed Louisiana winners to retire early, travel the world, help family members, and support charitable causes. There’s no doubt that Powerball has been life-changing for its biggest winners.
How often does a player from Louisiana win Powerball?
Over the past 5 years, a player from Louisiana has won a Powerball prize of $1 million or more about once every 4 months on average. Here’s a look at the frequency of big wins:
| Year | Number of $1M+ winners |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 winners |
| 2019 | 2 winners |
| 2020 | 2 winners |
| 2021 | 5 winners |
| 2022 | 2 winners so far |
Over the last 5 years, there have been about 14 major winners from Louisiana. That works out to around 1 big winner every 4 months on average. Of course some years have had more success, like 2021 when 5 major prizes were won in the state.
How to play Powerball in Louisiana
Playing Powerball in Louisiana is easy. Tickets can be purchased at any authorized lottery retailer in the state. Here are the basics for playing:
- Pick 5 numbers from 1 to 69
- Select 1 Powerball number from 1 to 26
- Choose Quick Pick for randomly selected numbers
- Purchase tickets up until 9:59 p.m. CT on draw nights
- Watch the drawings at 10:00 p.m. CT on Wednesdays & Saturdays
It costs $2 per play. Players can multiply non-jackpot prizes with the Power Play add-on for an extra $1 per play. Jackpots start at $40 million and continue growing until there’s a winner. Tickets can be purchased at over 1,900 retailers across the state.
Lottery proceeds benefit Louisiana
The Louisiana Lottery began in 1991 to generate revenue for public education programs in the state. Today, the lottery provides about $200 million annually for K-12 education. Proceeds go to the Minimum Foundation Program that funds instructional materials, school supplies, and teacher pay. Since inception, Louisiana Lottery profits have added $4.4 billion to education in the state.
Conclusion
In summary, there have been 3 major jackpot winners from Louisiana over the history of Powerball in the state. These big winners have come from Lafayette, Mandeville, and Lafayette. In addition, Louisiana has produced many mid-tier winners over the years who have scored prizes in the millions. Certain parishes and cities seem to have greater luck. Tickets can be purchased at hundreds of retail locations across Louisiana. Powerball proceeds continue to provide substantial funding for education in the state. So while winning Powerball is rare, there’s always a chance for someone from Louisiana to become the next big jackpot winner!
