For the second time this year and the fourth time in about four years, the Mega Millions jackpot has surpassed $1 billion, with the pot estimated at $1.1 billion for Tuesday night’s drawing.
The odds of matching all six numbers – the regular five numbers plus the Mega Ball – are pretty terrible. In fact, you’re more likely to get struck by lightning, bitten by a shark or pulverized by an asteroid than win the jackpot.
But just because the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 303 million − and Delaware has never had a true jackpot winner − doesn’t mean Delawareans haven’t won big in various lottery games over the last decade.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUUT TUESDAY’S DRAWING:Lottery jackpot climbs to $1.1 billion (and counting).
Here’s a look back at recent, high-profile wins.
2022: Greenwood man wins $3 million in spur-of-the-moment purchase
This past summer, a 36-year-old Greenwood man was showing his wife how easy it was to use Delaware’s self-service lottery ticket kiosks when he bought a lucky Mega Millions ticket.
He had almost forgotten about the ticket and wasn’t expecting to win much when he later scanned it. Yet to his surprise, he found he’d matched all five numbers, as well as the 3x Megaplier.
When he checked it with the cashier, his luck was confirmed: He’d won $3 million, before taxes.
A LOCAL MAN’S SHOCK:Greenwood man stunned when he scans Mega Millions ticket, wins $3M; jackpot still climbing
2016: Couple wins over $120 million
At the time, this ticket, bought in December 2016, was one of the largest million-dollar wins since the Delaware Lottery Commission began tracking the data in 2009. It was sold at Selbyville Goose Creek.
The winners were identified as a couple from Pennyslvania in January 2017.
Marking the 10th jackpot won in Delaware since Powerball began in 1992, the couple opted for the $71.2 million lump sum over the 20-year annuity of $121.6 million.
The man had been playing the same numbers for years after a Powerball Quick Pick ticket gave him a set of numbers he liked.
JULY 2022:It’s the 2nd largest Mega Millions prize ever. Who doesn’t want a chance at $1.2 billion?
When he realized he won after scanning his ticket, he began to cry and walked out of the store to meet his wife in the car. In a similar state of disbelief, she made him double-check the numbers.
The couple said they didn’t want to spend the money foolishly, instead planned to make donations to schools or other charities in the future. Avid travelers, they planned to buy an RV they had their eyes on, and the man added he might buy a hot rod, a longtime dream of his.
2013: $10.38 million ticket sold in Rehoboth
A Powerball ticket at Super G #387 in Rehoboth hit for $10,377,750.10. The winner remained anonymous and had yet to claim their prize when the ticket first hit, according to DelawareOnline/The News Journal archives.
Having been purchased over Memorial Day weekend, the store manager suspected the winner of the ticket could have been a tourist passing through the beach towns, but he kept his fingers crossed for it to be a local.
WINNERS FROM 1990-ON:A teacher, a retired auto worker and an office pool among Delaware’s lottery jackpot winners
The jackpot was to be split between two other winners who purchased tickets in Florida and Louisiana.
2012: Wilmington liquor store sells $33.05 million ticket
In October of 2012, Wilmington’s Cutrona’s Liquors on North Market St. sold a winning Powerball ticket for $33,046,926.64. The winner remained anonymous.
Reporter Krys’Tal Griffin contributed to this report.
Got a tip? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2785. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_
