The Biggest Wins in Massachusetts Lottery History

Written by Jackpot Staff

January 7, 2026

The Massachusetts State Lottery has created more millionaires than most people realize, with some winners claiming prizes so enormous they've made national headlines. From hospital workers to custodians, ordinary Massachusetts residents have had their lives transformed overnight by matching the right combination of numbers. These incredible stories of fortune represent more than just massive cash prizes—they're testaments to how a single ticket can completely rewrite someone's future.

Massachusetts has established itself as home to some of America's most significant lottery victories, with the state's lottery system generating record-breaking revenues exceeding $6 billion annually. This success has not only funded crucial public services but has created a collection of winner stories that continue to inspire hope in players across the Commonwealth.

Whether you're a regular player dreaming of your own jackpot moment or simply fascinated by these life-changing events, join us as we explore the most extraordinary lottery wins in Massachusetts history and the compelling stories behind them.

Mavis Wanczyk: $758.7 Million Powerball Winner

When Mavis Wanczyk checked her Powerball ticket on August 23, 2017, she couldn't believe her eyes. The 53-year-old hospital worker from Chicopee had just won $758.7 million—the largest single-ticket lottery jackpot in American history at that time.

"The first thing I want to do is just sit back and relax," Wanczyk told reporters at her press conference, still visibly stunned by her good fortune. Her winning numbers—6, 7, 16, 23, 26, and Powerball 4—had instantly transformed her from a medical center employee to one of the wealthiest lottery winners ever.

Wanczyk's reaction to her newfound wealth was refreshingly practical. Rather than planning extravagant celebrations, she simply stated she wanted to "hide in my bed" to process the life-changing event. She also wasted no time calling her employer to announce her immediate retirement after 32 years in the workforce.

The Chicopee convenience store that sold her the winning ticket, Pride Station & Store, received a $50,000 commission, which the owner generously pledged to donate to charity. Meanwhile, Wanczyk faced the reality that her advertised jackpot would be substantially reduced by taxes—federal withholding claimed 24% immediately, with her total tax obligation likely reaching nearly 40% when combining federal and state taxes.

Despite these deductions, Wanczyk's win remains one of the most significant individual lottery victories in American history, cementing her place in Massachusetts lottery lore.

Geraldine Williams: From Cleaning Houses to $294 Million

Before Mavis Wanczyk's record-breaking win, Geraldine Williams held the title of Massachusetts' most fortunate lottery player. On July 2, 2004, the 67-year-old cleaning woman from Lowell matched all the winning Mega Millions numbers to claim an astounding $294 million prize.

Williams' story resonates deeply because it represents the quintessential American dream. After working as a custodian at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell for 15 years before retirement, she had continued cleaning houses to supplement her modest income. The moment she realized she'd won was pure emotional drama—watching the drawing on television, she repeatedly muttered, "Oh, God! Oh, God! Let it be! Let it be!" as each matching number appeared.

Unlike some winners who make impulsive decisions, Williams demonstrated remarkable financial prudence. She opted for the lump-sum payment of $117.6 million after taxes rather than the annuity option. Her plans for the money reflected her generous character—she intended to distribute wealth to her three children, support her eight grandchildren, contribute to charitable causes, and finally fulfill her lifelong dream of traveling.

What makes Williams' story particularly heartwarming are the testimonials from those who knew her. Colleagues described her as "a wonderful person" whom "everybody liked," while neighbors called her "a bundle of energy" who genuinely cared for elderly people in her community. Her win seemed like karmic reward for a lifetime of hard work and kindness.

Other Notable Powerball Winners in Massachusetts

While Wanczyk's jackpot stands as the state's largest, Massachusetts has produced several other significant Powerball winners:

• Maureen Hinckley claimed a $61.5 million Powerball jackpot on December 11, 2013, after purchasing her ticket at the Appletown Store in Sterling.
• Rosa DeLeon of Lexington won $50 million on December 12, 2012, with a ticket from Lexington Shell—creating what lottery officials noted as a curious coincidence with Hinckley's win almost exactly one year later.
• James Freeman became Massachusetts' first-ever Powerball jackpot winner when he claimed $25.6 million on June 8, 2011. Freeman's story is particularly poignant—he had been living on disability payments following a serious back injury from his work with the U.S. Navy. His modest plans for the money included buying a Hyundai Elantra, which he described as "all I want" after years of financial struggle.

These winners represent the diverse backgrounds of Massachusetts lottery players, from working-class individuals to retirees, all united by the life-changing moment of seeing their numbers match.

Massachusetts' Mega Millions Success Stories

Beyond Geraldine Williams' historic win, Massachusetts has produced several other notable Mega Millions jackpot winners:

• Sandeep "Sunny" Singh, a 22-year-old Hyannis resident, claimed a $30.5 million Mega Millions jackpot on October 16, 2012. Singh's story captured public attention because of his youth and work ethic—he had been working two jobs to help his mother pay bills when fortune struck. His sister had purchased the quick-pick ticket on his behalf when he was too busy working to buy it himself. Despite his young age, Singh expressed mature priorities: helping his mother with mortgage payments, supporting family members, pursuing his bachelor's degree in business, and making charitable donations.
• Candido Oliviera won a $32 million Mega Millions jackpot on August 19, 2011, with a ticket purchased at a Tedeschi Food Shop in Dorchester.
• S & L Trust of Waltham claimed a $31 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2023, represented by trustee Leo J. Cushing, who selected the cash option and received $16,542,158 before taxes.

These winners demonstrate that while the odds remain extraordinarily long—approximately 1 in 290.5 million for Mega Millions—Massachusetts residents continue to beat those odds with remarkable frequency.

Scratch Off Ticket Millionaire Winners

While multi-state games like Powerball and Mega Millions generate the biggest headlines, Massachusetts scratch tickets have created their own share of millionaires:

• Desiree Fortini-Craft claimed an incredible $25 million prize from the "Billion Dollar Extravaganza" scratch ticket game. What makes her story particularly interesting is her history with lottery wins—in 2006, she had previously won $1 million on another Massachusetts scratch ticket. Fortini-Craft demonstrated her continued faith in her lucky streak by returning to the West Roxbury store where she purchased her winning ticket to buy additional $50 scratch tickets, promptly winning another $500. The store owner noted her habit of purchasing scratch tickets in pairs, saying she "believes in two together."
• Nicholas Rocco won $1 million on a Massachusetts scratch ticket in October 2018 but maintained his regular lifestyle and employment after the win. He waited approximately a week before claiming his prize, continuing to work his regular job in the interim. After taxes, Rocco received approximately $400,000, which he described as "really really awesome," though he noted that his family didn't adopt a glamorous lifestyle—"you would never know we won a million dollars."

These scratch ticket winners highlight how instant games continue to create life-changing moments for Massachusetts residents, often with less publicity than the major jackpot games but with equally profound impacts on winners' lives.

How Massachusetts Lottery Winners Claim Their Prizes

When Massachusetts residents win major lottery prizes, they face important decisions about how to claim their winnings. Winners have 60 days to decide between annuity payments or a lump-sum cash option, and up to one year from the drawing date to claim their prize.

The claiming process requires winners to present several documents at the Massachusetts State Lottery offices:

• A completed and signed claim form
• The original signed winning ticket
• Government-issued photo identification
• Proof of Social Security number

After verification, lottery officials validate the winning ticket and issue payment to the claimant. This structured process ensures security and accuracy in distributing sometimes enormous sums of money.

The choice between annuity and lump-sum payments represents a critical financial decision. The annuity option typically provides payments over 30 years, with amounts increasing by five percent annually. This creates a guaranteed income stream that can offer psychological comfort and reduce the temptation to spend an entire fortune quickly.

The lump-sum option provides immediate access to the present value of the jackpot, which is substantially reduced from the advertised amount but offers investment flexibility. Financial advisors generally recommend that financially disciplined individuals with investment knowledge select the lump-sum option, as investing the proceeds can potentially generate returns exceeding the interest rates implicit in annuity calculations.

Powerball vs. Mega Millions: Major Massachusetts Lotteries

Massachusetts residents can participate in two major multi-state lottery games: Powerball and Mega Millions. Each offers different odds, prize structures, and gameplay mechanics:

Powerball:

• Played in 45 states plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
• Tickets cost $2 per play
• Players select five numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball number from 1 to 26
• Drawings occur three times weekly: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays
• Minimum starting jackpot is $20 million
• Odds of winning the jackpot: approximately 1 in 292.2 million

Mega Millions:

• Played in 45 states plus Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands
• Tickets cost $5 per play
• Players select five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 24
• Drawings occur twice weekly: Tuesdays and Fridays
• Minimum starting jackpot is $50 million
• Odds of winning the jackpot: approximately 1 in 290.4 million

Both games offer nine different prize tiers, with secondary prizes for matching some but not all numbers. The Match-5 prize (matching all five main numbers but not the special ball) is worth $1 million in both games, though this can be multiplied with add-on features like Power Play or built-in Multiplier.

The Impact of Lottery Revenues on Massachusetts Communities

Beyond individual winner stories, the Massachusetts lottery system generates substantial revenues that directly benefit the Commonwealth's cities and towns. In fiscal year 2023, Massachusetts collected record-breaking lottery revenue exceeding $6 billion, enabling the state to contribute roughly $1.2 billion to municipalities for local aid, infrastructure improvements, and educational services.

Massachusetts residents exhibit particularly high lottery participation compared to national averages. In 2022, Massachusetts residents spent an average of $839 per person on state lottery tickets, significantly exceeding the national average of $293. As a percentage of personal income, Massachusetts lottery spending reached 0.99 percent in 2022—the highest rate in the country and more than double the national average of 0.45 percent.

This robust participation creates a reliable funding stream for all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts, with at least 45 percent of lottery revenue being paid to winners and no more than 15 percent used for operating costs. The remainder directly supports local communities, creating a system where lottery participation translates to funding for essential public services.

Avoiding Lottery Scams

The prominence of major lottery winners in Massachusetts has unfortunately spawned numerous scams that exploit public knowledge of these victories. Mavis Wanczyk, whose $758.7 million Powerball win should have been purely positive, has become the subject of persistent scams that continue years after her victory.

Scammers create fraudulent communications, fake social media accounts, and elaborate schemes claiming that Wanczyk is distributing money to lucky recipients. These scams typically operate by sending emails or social media messages claiming the recipient has been selected to receive large cash grants, requiring only that they provide personal information or pay small "processing fees" to qualify.

Recent iterations have involved scammers contacting victims through Facebook claiming to represent Wanczyk and offering amounts such as $10,000, requiring only that victims establish payment accounts and provide details. Other variations appear on question-and-answer websites, where scammers impersonate Wanczyk to lure victims into sending money for purported "insurance" and "delivery costs."

Remember this fundamental truth: no legitimate lottery winner sends unsolicited messages offering free money in exchange for personal information or upfront payments. If you receive such communications, they are invariably scams, regardless of how convincing they may appear.

Strategies for Lottery Winners

Lottery winners face unique challenges in managing sudden wealth, and financial advisors have developed strategic frameworks to help them avoid common pitfalls. One widely recommended approach involves creating "buckets" or categories of funds designed for different purposes:

• The Lifestyle Bucket: Covers annual expenses such as housing, transportation, and personal needs. Financial advisors recommend investing this conservatively with a focus on capital preservation, using interest-bearing assets like money market funds and government bonds.
• The Growth Bucket: Focuses on capital appreciation through investments in stocks, real estate, and other growth assets. This bucket accepts higher risk for potential long-term wealth creation.
• The Legacy Bucket: Designates funds specifically for supporting family members, charitable causes, or other philanthropic goals. By deciding early what percentage of winnings will go here, lottery winners can avoid becoming overly generous at the expense of their financial security.

Beyond this bucket strategy, experts recommend lottery winners:

• Hire professional advisors, including a certified financial planner, tax specialist, and attorney
• Establish clear boundaries regarding gifts or loans to family and friends
• Create charitable entities like private foundations or donor-advised funds
• Secure adequate insurance coverage, including umbrella policies
• Consider purchasing annuities to guarantee future income regardless of other investment decisions

With proper planning, lottery winners can enjoy their newfound wealth for decades rather than experiencing the financial ruin that befalls approximately 40 percent of lottery winners within several years.

How to Play the Massachusetts Lottery Online

Today's lottery players have more convenient options than ever before. Rather than making special trips to retailers, you can now order lottery tickets online through secure platforms like Jackpot.com.

Jackpot.com offers Massachusetts residents a convenient way to participate in games like Powerball, Mega Millions, and state lottery games from the comfort of home. The platform allows you to browse available games, review recent winners, and securely order state and national lottery tickets using your phone or computer.

Is it legal to order lottery tickets online in Massachusetts? Absolutely! Players can order lottery tickets online in regulated states through secure lottery apps like Jackpot.com. These licensed lottery ticket courier services work in collaboration with local retailers to ensure your online lottery ticket orders comply with state regulations.

The process is simple:

• Create an account on Jackpot.com
• Browse available Massachusetts lottery games
• Select your numbers or choose quick picks
• Complete your purchase securely
• Receive confirmation of your entry and a scan of your ticket

With Jackpot.com, you'll never miss a drawing due to forgetting to purchase tickets or being unable to visit a retailer. The platform even notifies you if you win, eliminating the risk of overlooking a winning ticket.