New York has the most lottery jackpot winners in the United States when Powerball and Mega Millions wins are combined. A comparison of jackpot results through 2025 recorded 55 jackpot wins in New York, compared with 44 in California.
The figures refer to winning tickets sold in each state, not necessarily lottery winners who live there. Someone can buy a ticket while traveling or near a state border.
Which State Has the Most Lottery Jackpot Wins?
| Measurement | Leading State | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Combined Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot wins through 2025 | New York | 55 wins |
| Second-highest combined total | California | 44 wins |
| Powerball jackpot wins since the 2015 game change | California | 6 wins as of September 2025 |
| Jackpot wins per capita | Virginia | 100 wins per million residents |
These figures show why the answer depends on how jackpot wins are measured. New York leads in total wins, California leads in recent Powerball wins since the 2015 game change, and Virginia ranks first when wins are measured against population.
California also sold the ticket for the largest Powerball jackpot ever won: $2.04 billion in November 2022.
Why Does New York Have So Many Lottery Winners?
New York has a large population and substantial lottery participation. When more people buy tickets, the state has more chances to produce a winning ticket over time.
That does not give an individual ticket better odds. A Powerball ticket bought in New York has the same drawing odds as a Powerball ticket bought in another state. The same principle applies to Mega Millions.
Does Buying a Ticket in New York Improve Your Odds?
No. The drawing odds for Powerball and Mega Millions do not change based on where a ticket is purchased. New York's position in the total-win ranking mainly reflects its population and ticket sales.
A state can have more jackpot wins without giving each ticket a higher chance of winning.
Does This Ranking Include Every Lottery Prize?
No. The comparison covers Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot wins. It does not count every small lottery prize, scratch-off win or draw-game payout across all state lotteries because there is no single nationwide database that tracks all of those results.
For the combined Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot total, New York is the leading state with 55 wins through 2025.