The Louisiana Powerball is one of the biggest lottery jackpots in the United States. The game is played in multiple states, but residents of Louisiana often buy tickets hoping to win big. The Powerball jackpot starts at $40 million and continues growing until someone wins the grand prize. This leads many hopeful Louisiana residents to frequently ask: When was the last time someone won the big Powerball jackpot in Louisiana?
Recent Louisiana Powerball Winners
The last time someone won the Louisiana Powerball jackpot was October 31, 2020. The lucky winner was a resident of Lafayette, Louisiana. They hit all 5 white balls and the red Powerball to win the $185 million jackpot. The cash value taken home after taxes was $128.1 million, which is still an absolutely life changing amount of money. Prior to this, the last Louisiana resident to win the Powerball jackpot was May 4, 2019. That winner was from Robert, Louisiana and won $194.5 million.
So in the last few years, there have been two Louisiana residents lucky enough to hit the Powerball grand prize. Those two big jackpot wins were only about a year and a half apart. This goes to show players in Louisiana do occasionally defy the immense odds and capture the biggest Powerball prizes.
Other Notable Louisiana Lottery Wins
Though the Louisiana Powerball jackpot hasn’t been hit too frequently, residents of the state have still won significant lottery prizes over the years:
– In 2018, a New Orleans truck stop sold a Powerball ticket worth $150,000.
– In 2016, two Lafayette residents split a $1 million Powerball prize.
– In 2015, a Gonzales resident won $1 million off a Powerball ticket purchased at a local gas station.
– In 2013, a man from Franklin Parish took home $1 million after matching 5 numbers on a Powerball ticket.
– There have been countless other major wins ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 over the past decade.
So Louisiana Lottery players have definitely won big over the years. The multi-million dollar Powerball jackpots don’t come around often, but even matching a few numbers can lead to life-changing prizes. Louisiana residents have to remain optimistic that even if the jackpot isn’t hit, there are still great rewards out there.
Biggest Louisiana Powerball Jackpots
Here are the top 5 biggest Louisiana Powerball jackpots won to date:
| Amount | Date | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| $191.1 million | October 27, 2012 | Man from Lafayette |
| $185 million | October 31, 2020 | Resident of Lafayette |
| $150 million | September 18, 2013 | Family from Lafayette |
| $141.5 million | April 11, 2012 | Woman from Shreveport |
| $128.8 million | December 17, 2014 | Couple from Mandeville |
As you can see, Lafayette has been luckiest when it comes to big Louisiana Powerball winners. It’s interesting to note that the two biggest jackpots were hit about 8 years apart, both by residents of Lafayette. Louisiana lottery fans hope it won’t be too much longer before a new record jackpot is hit somewhere in the state.
Odds of Winning the Louisiana Powerball Jackpot
The odds of winning the Louisiana Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338. This means, on average, you can expect to buy 292 million Powerball tickets before hitting the jackpot. Since each ticket costs $2, that’s $584 million spent before a jackpot win. Of course, there is a chance to win millions by matching other prize amounts. But to win the multi-million dollar jackpot, the odds are incredibly small. However, as the examples show, residents of Louisiana do occasionally defy the odds and hit the massive grand prize.
How to Improve Your Chances of Winning
While the odds make it clear that winning the Powerball is extremely difficult, there are some tips that may slightly improve your chances:
– Play when the jackpot is bigger – This means more people are buying tickets, so more possible number combinations are covered.
– Buy multiple tickets – This improves your odds as you have more number combinations in play. But keep in mind, 10 tickets still has miniscule odds compared to 292 million.
– Join an office pool – Joining an office pool allows your group to afford more tickets and number combinations.
– Use family birthdays – Some people use birthdays or ages of family members when selecting numbers. There’s no evidence this works, but it adds sentiment.
– Avoid quick picks – Quick pick numbers are randomly generated. It’s argued that manually choosing may produce less likely combinations.
– Track past number frequency – Some numbers do appear more frequently. Keeping track and using data to choose could help a little.
– Consistency – Buy tickets regularly instead of just occasionally. This increases overall odds of getting lucky.
Again, the odds are so astronomically high that there’s no definitive way to improve chances. But the tips above may provide just a slight advantage over random number selection. Consistently playing over many years seems key.
Where Jackpot Ticket Was Sold in Louisiana
The retailer locations where the winning Powerball tickets were sold for the biggest Louisiana jackpot wins are:
– $191.1 million – Pump N City – Lafayette, LA
– $185 million – Circle K – Lafayette, LA
– $150 million – Super 1 Foods – Lafayette, LA
– $141.5 million – Aussie #1 Grill – Shreveport, LA
– $128.8 million – Circle K – Mandeville, LA
It seems the best places in Louisiana to buy Powerball tickets are gas stations and convenience stores in Lafayette. The aptly named Pump N City sold a ticket for the biggest Louisiana jackpot ever. Convenience stores like Circle K have also sold several winning tickets over the years in various cities. Players may want to look for lucky retailers that have sold jackpot wins in the past.
Taxes on Winnings in Louisiana
For Louisiana lottery winnings, federal tax withholding is 25% while state tax withholding is 5%. This means on a $100 million Powerball jackpot, the winner would immediately pay $30 million in taxes. The federal tax rate may be a bit higher too depending on income level and deductions. So the after-tax cash value on a big jackpot can be 30-40% less than the advertised amount. It’s still life changing money, but winners should be aware that taxes will quickly deduct a large percentage.
Notable Winners and How They Spent the Money
Some of the notable Louisiana Powerball jackpot winners over the years include:
Lafayette Truck Stop Owners
The winners of the $150 million in 2013 were the owners of the Super 1 Foods truck stop where the ticket was sold. Mack and Ann McCauley had owned the store for many years prior. They opted for the lump sum cash payout of $95 million before taxes. They used their newfound wealth to benefit family and their community. Their truck stop received major renovations and $1 million was donated to local charities.
Shreveport Grandmother
The $141.5 million winner in 2012 was 70-year-old Gloria Mackenzie. The grandmother purchased the lucky quick pick ticket at a gas station. After taking the lump sum of $129.2 million, she immediately began donating to charity. This included sizable donations to Maine colleges and local community organizations.
Lafayette Doctor
Dr. Robert Guidry, an optometrist from Lafayette won half of a $191 million jackpot in 2012. He had bought just 3 quick pick tickets after waking up in the middle of the night and deciding to purchase tickets. Dr. Guidry opted for a trust as opposed to lump sum, meaning he received the full $95.5 million pre-tax over 29 years.
Mandeville Couple
The winners of a $128 million jackpot in 2014 were 70-year-old Henry Dudney and his wife Carolyn. The couple said they would retire immediately and pursue hobbies like traveling and fishing. They also shared plans to give generously to charity and their two sons. After taxes, the couple reportedly walked away with just over $70 million.
How Winning Has Changed Lives
For the lucky few who manage to beat the long odds and win a Louisiana Powerball jackpot, it fully changes their lives:
– Financial security – They instantly have plenty of money to pay off any debt, afford anything they want, and face no future money struggles.
– Career changes – Most jackpot winners quit their jobs and retire early to enjoy their money. Some pursue hobby businesses or new careers that interest them.
– New homes – Expensive new houses are commonly bought. Some purchase multiple homes in desired locations.
– Luxury purchases – From sports cars to vacations to jewelry, winners spend freely on luxuries they’ve always dreamed of.
– Helping others – Many winners use a portion of the money to help family members with debt, businesses, education costs, or homes.
– Philanthropy – Sizable donations to charity are common. Some winners even start their own philanthropic foundations.
Basically, the influx of hundreds of millions of dollars allows jackpot winners to live stress-free and purchase anything they want. Their family is also financially supported for generations to come.
State Benefits from Lottery Revenue
The Louisiana Lottery provides substantial revenue to the state government. About $500 million from lottery sales goes towards the state treasury each year. These funds are used for various educational programs and scholarships. The Louisiana Lottery began in 1991. Since then, it has delivered $4 billion to the state for education. This dependable revenue source is hugely beneficial for Louisiana schools, students and teachers. When residents buy lottery tickets, they are contributing much-needed funds to support their state’s educational programs.
Conclusion
Winning the Louisiana Powerball jackpot is a long shot, but past winners prove it is possible. The state has created numerous millionaires and turned regular citizens into overnight celebrities. With jackpots starting at $40 million and frequently climbing to $100 million-plus, the prizes continue to grow larger, enticing more people to play. Lottery revenue benefits education, so by participating, Louisiana residents support a worthy cause. While the odds are stacked against players, there’s always a chance the next Powerball winner could be holding a ticket bought at a Louisiana gas station or convenience store. The state’s lottery fans just have to keep dream big each time the Powerball jackpot rolls over, imagining what they’d do if they won millions.
