In life, there are a few things that can change our fortunes forever, and winning the lottery is undoubtedly one of them. It’s a dream come true for many of us to win a life-changing amount of money with a single ticket. And yet, there are some people out there who have managed to do just that. In this post, we’re going to take a look at the top 10 luckiest lottery winners ever.
- Mavis Wanczyk: The Massachusetts resident won a whopping $758.7 million in 2017, making her the largest single-winner in American history.
- Gloria MacKenzie: The then 84-year-old Florida resident won the $590.5 million Powerball jackpot in 2013, becoming the largest jackpot winner in history at the time.
- Pedro Quezada: The New Jersey resident won $338 million in 2013 after buying just one ticket from a liquor store.
- The Three Amigos: Three Maryland friends pooled their money together and won the $656 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2012.
- Richard Lustig: This Florida man won seven lottery grand prizes, earning him over $1 million in total winnings.
- Shane Missler: The then 20-year-old Florida resident won the $451 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2018.
- Sheelah Ryan: The Florida woman won $55 million in 1988 and spent much of her fortune on charitable causes before passing away in 1994.
- Thomas and Denise Ross: This Arkansas couple won $177 million in 2008 and used their winnings to start a charitable foundation.
- David Lee Edwards: The Kentucky man won $27 million in 2001, but unfortunately lost most of his fortune due to extravagant spending and substance abuse.
- Harold and Elaine Messner: This Pennsylvania couple won $57 million in 1984 and used their winnings to start a foundation to help underprivileged children.
These lottery winners’ stories are not only inspiring but also a testament to the power of luck and good fortune. Winning the lottery can undoubtedly change one’s life forever, but it’s important to use that newfound wealth wisely and responsibly. These individuals, whether they spent their money on themselves or donated it to charity, have left a lasting legacy through their winnings.