A nearly $30M payday! Megabucks winner sets historic jackpot record

A Megabucks jackpot winner recently set the record for the largest-ever prize in the history of the game at $29.71 million.

The Massachusetts Lottery said Mr. Potato Head Trust of Springfield claimed the prize on Oct. 28, represented by trustee Hyman Darling. The trust opted to receive the prize in the form of a one-time payment of $19,635,669, before taxes. When asked how the name of the trust was chosen, Darling said the winner named it after someone they know who reminded them of Mr. Potato Head.

The $29.71 million prize is the largest jackpot prize in the history of Megabucks, which was introduced in 1982.

The winning ticket was purchased ahead of the Sept. 7 drawing at King Mart on Westfield Road in Holyoke. The store receives a $50,000 bonus for the sale of the ticket, the lottery said.

Megabucks is a progressive jackpot game only available in Massachsuetts. To win the jackpot, players must match all six numbers in the drawing. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 9 p.m.

Here’s a list of the Top 10 Megabucks jackpots of all time:

• 1. $29,710,000 — Sep. 7, 2026
• 2. $21,714,520 — Oct. 16, 1985
• 3. $21,148,080 — Jan. 8, 1986
• 4. $18,218,080 — Mar. 10, 1984
• 5. $16,350,000 — Sep. 10, 2022
• 6. $15,619,880 –July 14, 1984
• 7. $15,210,840 — July 8, 1987
• 8. $14,628,740 — May 29, 1985
• 9. $14,263,543 — Nov. 18, 2000
• 10. $13,855,359 — Oct. 6, 1990