Yes, there have been many lottery winners from the state of Texas over the years. Texas participates in two major national lottery games – Powerball and Mega Millions. Since Texas joined the multistate lottery in 1992, dozens of Texans have won jackpots and millions of dollars in these games alone. Beyond the huge jackpots, thousands more Texans have won smaller prizes ranging from $1 million to $10,000 in state lottery games like Lotto Texas, Texas Two Step, Cash Five, Pick 3, and Daily 4. Some notable big Texas lottery winners include:
- An Arlington resident won a $227 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2019, the largest prize ever won on a single Texas lottery ticket.
- A Laredo resident won a $150 million Powerball jackpot in 2004.
- An El Paso resident won a $133 million Powerball jackpot in 2013.
- A Katy resident won a $77 million Lotto Texas jackpot in 2010.
So in short, yes there have been many residents from all over Texas who have won major lottery prizes over the past 30 years. The state has minted dozens of millionaires and multimillionaires through its participation in national and local lottery games. Texans have hit huge Powerball and MegaMillions jackpots and scored massive wins in the state lottery games too.
Notable Big Jackpot Winners
Here is a more detailed look at some of the biggest lottery winners to ever come from Texas:
2019 – $227 Million Mega Millions
In September 2019, an Arlington resident claimed a $227 million Mega Millions prize, the largest lottery jackpot ever won in the state of Texas. The person had purchased the Quick Pick ticket at an Arlington Albertsons. The winning numbers for the September 24 drawing were 2-22-29-31-21 and the Mega Ball number was 9. After state and federal taxes, the cash value of the jackpot was $157 million. At the time it was the second largest MegaMillions prize in the game’s history. The lucky Arlington winner remained anonymous when claiming the prize.
2004 – $150 Million Powerball
In September 2004, a Laredo resident hit a $150 million Powerball jackpot. It was that game’s second highest jackpot at the time. The resident, Texas Retirement System employee Daniel Peña, claimed the prize a month later and opted to receive the jackpot in annual installments over 30 years. Peña purchased his Quick Pick ticket at a Stop N Drive convenience store in Laredo. At the time, it was the largest lottery jackpot ever won by someone in Laredo. Peña said he planned to keep working and use the money for family and charity.
2013 – $133 Million Powerball
In August 2013, an El Paso resident claimed a $133 million Powerball prize. The person purchased the jackpot-winning ticket at a 7-Eleven in El Paso. The winner chose to remain anonymous. It was the 4th largest Powerball jackpot won in Texas at the time and the 6th biggest lottery prize ever awarded to an individual in the state. The resident had the option to take a lump sum payment of $86 million before taxes rather than receive the full amount in installments over 30 years.
2010 – $77 Million Lotto Texas
In May 2010, a Katy resident hit a huge $77 million Lotto Texas jackpot. The person purchased the Quick Pick ticket at a Katy Pak-a-Sak. It was that game’s largest jackpot in nearly a decade at the time. Lotto Texas is one of the Texas Lottery’s in-state games that does not participate in the national lottery pools. The Katy resident chose to remain anonymous and take the $77 million as a lump sum cash payout. At the time it was the second largest lottery prize ever awarded in Texas.
Other Notable Texas Lottery Wins
Beyond the headline-grabbing nine-figure jackpots, there have been many other sizable lottery winners from across Texas over the past three decades:
- A Sugar Land resident claimed a $72 million Lotto Texas jackpot in 2016.
- A Houston resident won a $71 million Mega Millions prize in 2015.
- An Austin resident scored a $50 million Lotto Texas jackpot in 2013.
- A Leander resident won a $46 million Lotto Texas jackpot in 2010.
- A Dallas resident hit a $45 million Lotto Texas jackpot in 2012.
- A Laredo resident claimed a $43 million Lotto Texas jackpot in 2017.
- A Dallas resident won a $27 million Lotto Texas jackpot in 2018.
- A Spring Branch resident claimed a $26 million Lotto Texas prize in 2019.
- A Houston resident scored a $19 million Lotto Texas jackpot in 2020.
- Dozens of Texans have won $1 million to $10 million playing Powerball, MegaMillions, Lotto Texas and other state games.
As these wins demonstrate, Texas lottery players have claimed substantial jackpots not just in the multistate games Powerball and MegaMillions but also in the state lottery games. Lotto Texas in particular has minted many millionaires and multimillionaires across Texas in the past three decades.
Texas Lottery Games
There are six major lottery games that Texans can play:
- Powerball – National jackpot game drawn twice weekly. Starting jackpot is $40 million.
- Mega Millions – National jackpot game drawn twice weekly. Starting jackpot is $40 million.
- Lotto Texas – In-state jackpot game drawn twice weekly. Jackpots start at $5 million.
- Texas Two Step – In-state game drawn twice weekly. Jackpots start at $200,000.
- Cash Five – Daily in-state drawing game. Top prize of $100,000.
- Daily 4 – Daily in-state drawing game. Various prize levels.
In 1992, Texas became the first traditionally conservative state to join the multi-state lottery games, starting with Powerball. Mega Millions was added in 2003. Prior to joining Powerball, Texas had its own in-state lottery games since 1992. Lotto Texas launched that year and is currently the state’s biggest jackpot game. The Texas Lottery has awarded over $63 billion in prizes since its inception and generates billions for public education.
Notable Winners by Texas City
The following table summarizes some of the largest lottery winners broken down by city in Texas:
| City | Name | Year | Game | Jackpot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington | Anonymous | 2019 | Mega Millions | $227 million |
| Laredo | Daniel Peña | 2004 | Powerball | $150 million |
| El Paso | Anonymous | 2013 | Powerball | $133 million |
| Katy | Anonymous | 2010 | Lotto Texas | $77 million |
| Sugar Land | Anonymous | 2016 | Lotto Texas | $72 million |
| Houston | Anonymous | 2015 | Mega Millions | $71 million |
| Austin | Anonymous | 2013 | Lotto Texas | $50 million |
This table illustrates some of the biggest lottery winners from cities across Texas. It shows that major jackpots have been won by residents all over the state playing different lottery games.
Lottery Winners by Texas Region
Looking at Texas lottery winners by region, the following areas stand out:
Houston Area
The greater Houston metro area has produced several huge lottery winners over the years:
- A Katy resident won a $77 million Lotto Texas jackpot in 2010.
- A Sugar Land resident claimed a $72 million Lotto Texas prize in 2016.
- A Houston resident scored a $71 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2015.
- A Spring Branch resident won a $26 million Lotto Texas prize in 2019.
- Many other Houston residents have won prizes in the millions.
Dallas-Fort Worth Area
North Texas has also seen some substantial lottery winners:
- An Arlington resident claimed a $227 million Mega Millions prize in 2019.
- A Dallas resident hit a $45 million Lotto Texas jackpot in 2012.
- A Dallas resident also won a $27 million Lotto Texas prize in 2018.
- Many other Dallas-Fort Worth residents have won multimillion dollar prizes.
Austin Area
Central Texas has produced big winners too:
- An Austin resident scored a $50 million Lotto Texas jackpot in 2013.
- A Leander resident claimed a $46 million Lotto Texas prize in 2010.
South Texas
Some of Texas’ biggest winners have come from the southernmost region:
- A Laredo resident won a $150 million Powerball jackpot in 2004.
- Another Laredo resident claimed a $43 million Lotto Texas prize in 2017.
So while lottery luck can strike anyone anywhere, Texas’s major metro areas and regions have all produced their share of jackpot winners over the past three decades.
Notable Winner Profiles
Some additional details on a few of Texas’s biggest lottery winners:
Daniel Peña
Daniel Peña, a Laredo retiree, won a $150 million Powerball jackpot in 2004. At the time, it was Powerball’s second largest jackpot. Peña worked for 27 years for the Texas Department of Health and took an early retirement in 1994. When Peña claimed his record winnings a month after the drawing, he said he planned to continue living in Laredo and would use the money to give to charity and have fun with his family. Peña chose to take his winnings in annual installments over 30 years.
Katy Powerball Winners
In 2016, 11 co-workers at Anadarko Petroleum in The Woodlands won a $543 million Powerball jackpot. The members of the self-dubbed “Anadarko 12” purchased the ticket together and elected to take the $327.8 million cash option. The winners included residents of Katy, Cypress, Conroe, Willis, and other Houston suburbs. They said they planned to continue working for the time being while also using the money for dream vacations and charity work.
Arlington Mega Millions Winner
The $227 million Mega Millions jackpot won in Arlington in 2019 was claimed by an Arlington resident who elected to remain anonymous. It was the largest lottery prize ever awarded to an individual in Texas. The person chose the cash value option of $157 million. While little is known publicly about the winner, lottery officials said it was an individual rather than a group that purchased the quick pick ticket. The win broke a years-long jackpot drought for Texas lottery players.
Corsicana $25 Million Winner
In 2018, a resident of Corsicana claimed a $25 million prize six months after her Lotto Texas ticket won. The person, identified as Claudia Carr, said she had forgotten she purchased a ticket and only checked it after finding it weeks later in her purse. Carr opted for the cash value of the jackpot and reportedly planned to spend the money paying off family debts and donating to her church. Officials said it was the second largest Lotto Texas prize ever to go unclaimed before the 180-day deadline was up.
Unclaimed Jackpots
While the majority of major lottery winners in Texas end up claiming their prizes, there have been some notable unclaimed jackpots over the years too.
Some of the largest unclaimed Texas lottery prizes include:
- A $16.25 million Lotto Texas ticket sold in Amarillo in 2011 expired unclaimed.
- A $13.5 million Lotto Texas prize sold in Garland in 2007 went unclaimed.
- A $12 million Lotto Texas jackpot from a ticket sold in Dallas in 2006 was never claimed.
- A $11 million Lotto Texas prize from 2002 sold in Houston when unclaimed.
- Hundreds of smaller jackpots also routinely go unclaimed.
For various reasons, some lucky winners do not come forward before the 180-day deadline to claim their prize. In that case, the money goes back to the state for future prizes. But most major jackpots are claimed in Texas, generating millions in winnings for fortunate residents.
Lottery Contribution to Texas Education
The Texas Lottery has been a major contributor to public education since its inception in 1992. Here are some key facts about lottery proceeds directed to Texas schools, colleges, and universities:
- Over $31 billion in lottery revenue has gone to the Foundation School Fund for public education since 1997.
- In Fiscal Year 2022, the Texas Lottery generated $1.97 billion for education.
- Lottery proceeds go to funding needs like teacher salaries, buying school supplies, building new schools, and supporting rising enrollment.
- The School Fund receives an average of $1 billion yearly from the Texas Lottery.
- Before 1997, lottery proceeds went to the state’s General Revenue Fund.
- The Lottery Act designates that a certain percentage of revenues go into the Foundation School Fund each year.
- Less than 12% of Lottery revenue goes towards operating costs and retailer commissions.
So while playing the lottery is optional entertainment, the games have delivered vital funding for Texas public education for over 25 years. Lottery proceeds support school programs, students, and infrastructure across the state.
Conclusion
In summary, Texas lottery players have claimed hundreds of millions in jackpot prizes since the state joined the national lottery games in 1992. Major wins have been scored across Texas, with residents from Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and other cities and towns hitting it big. Lotto Texas has produced enormous jackpots along with Powerball and MegaMillions wins. Beyond the headline-grabbing nine-figure prizes, thousands of lesser jackpots and prizes have made millionaires statewide. While some jackpots have gone unclaimed, the vast majority find their way into lucky Texans’ hands. And the funds generated from lottery ticket sales have provided over $31 billion much-needed support to the state’s public education system. For many individuals, the Texas Lottery has delivered life-changing winnings. And for the state, it has delivered crucial dollars for schools and students for nearly 30 years.