California's Biggest Jackpot Moments
As the most populous state and one of the most active lottery markets, California has produced some of the most notable lottery wins in American history. California sells more Powerball and Mega Millions tickets than any other state, which means jackpot-winning tickets are statistically more likely to be sold here.
Multi-State Game Records
California's largest prizes have come from Powerball and Mega Millions, which regularly produce nine and ten-figure jackpots. Because California uses pari-mutuel prizes even for national games, the lower-tier prize amounts can differ from other states, but jackpot amounts are shared equally with all participating states.
SuperLotto Plus
California's flagship state game, SuperLotto Plus, has produced numerous multi-million dollar winners. The game's 5/47 + 1/27 format offers better odds than national games (about 1 in 42 million versus 1 in 292 million for Powerball), making jackpot wins more frequent though typically smaller. SuperLotto Plus jackpots have reached over $100 million during extended rollovers.
The No-Tax Advantage
One reason California lottery wins are particularly valuable: California does not tax lottery winnings at the state level. Winners still pay federal taxes, but they avoid the 6-13% state tax bite that winners in states like New York face. Our tax-free states guide explains how this affects take-home amounts, and the tax calculator lets you estimate net proceeds for any prize.
Claiming in California
California requires jackpot winners to be publicly identified — there is no anonymous claiming option. Winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim prizes of $600 or more. Prizes over $1 million must be claimed at lottery headquarters in Sacramento. Our guide to winning covers the claiming process step by step.
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