The most comprehensive analysis of every documented Powerball jackpot winner in U.S. history. We tracked what happened to each winner years after their windfall.
180
Winners Studied
1992-2024
$45.5B
Total Jackpots
Combined value
~$27.3B
After Taxes
~40% effective rate
52
Average Age
At time of win
Methodology: Public records, court documents, news archives, and official lottery announcements. Documented facts only.
For decades, media outlets have repeated that "70% of lottery winners go broke within 5 years." We traced this claim back to its source - and found it was never based on actual research.
"70% of lottery winners go broke"
The "lottery curse" - a viral statistic cited by major outlets without verification.
2% documented financial ruin
Based on 180 Powerball jackpot winners, verified through public records.
Source: NEFE (Jan 2018) officially stated the "70%" statistic was never backed by their research.
While the "70% broke" myth is false, winning the lottery does come with real risks. These are documented cases of problems winners faced - from lawsuits to identity theft.
2%
Financial Ruin
4 of 180
7%
Divorced
6 of 84 tracked
5%
Premature Deaths
9 of 180
2%
Scam Victims
3 documented
40%
Name Used in Scams
68/169 verified
4%
Family Tragedies
8 lost family members
Many winners made smart decisions after their windfall - hiring advisors, staying anonymous, and maintaining their pre-win lifestyle. These protective behaviors correlate with financial stability.
56%
Invested Wisely
100 winners
52%
Gave to Charity
93 winners
62%
Avoided Publicity
112 winners
43%
Helped Family
77 winners
29%
Stayed in Same Home
52 winners
20%
Created Foundation
36 winners
19%
Kept Working
35 winners
14%
Started Business
26 winners
Winners can have multiple issues
Winners can exhibit multiple behaviors
The curse isn't winners going broke - it's the thousands of victims scammed using their stolen identities. Winners are 9x more likely to be victims than criminals.
Identities Targeted
40%
68/169 verified
$500M+ Jackpots
100%
26/26 targeted
Why? $500M+ winners appear on national TV, trending on social media. Their faces become instantly recognizable, making "donation" claims more believable.
Mavis Wanczyk - 3,500+ FTC complaints
$759M (2017). "First name people hear" in lottery scams per AARP. Scams active 8+ years.
Manuel Franco - 315+ BBB reports
$768M (2019). $16,800 confirmed victim losses across 43 states.
Cheng Saephan - Weaponized Tragedy
$1.3B (2024). Cancer diagnosis turned into "dying wish" scams.
$351M in lottery scam losses
FTC 2024 data. Elderly lose $500-$50,000 per scam.
For every lottery winner who commits a crime, there are 9 winners whose identities are used in fraud schemes. The "lottery curse" isn't about winners becoming criminals - it's about winners becoming targets.
* Analysis of 169 verified winners. Identity exploitation continues 8+ years post-win. Scam types include fake foundations, romance scams, and "dying wish" schemes.
Two findings about female Powerball winners that challenge common assumptions.
Based on 49 female and 122 male winners
Compared to only 34% of male winners being single
While men make up 71% of Powerball winners, women who do win take home larger average jackpots. Additionally, 61% of female winners were unmarried - significantly higher than the 34% rate among men. These patterns may reflect different playing habits or ticket purchasing behaviors.
Occupation category of 148 winners with documented employment
Blue collar workers are the most common jackpot winners - not because they're luckier, but because they play more often. Retired winners show the highest financial stability.
Employment status of 149 winners with documented decisions
Of working winners, 48% quit immediately. 30% continued working - those who kept their jobs showed better financial outcomes.
Most winners play alone, but syndicates win the BIGGEST jackpots - 3.0x larger than couples on average.
180 winners with documented claim type
Syndicates win jackpots averaging $586M, 3.0x what couples win ($196M). Why? Office pools and groups buy more tickets, especially when jackpots grow massive.
The typical Powerball winner is over 50 - not the "young and reckless" stereotype
Older people win the lottery more often. Most winners are 50+ - not the young, impulsive players media often portrays. This matches the demographic reality: older adults are more likely to play regularly and for longer periods before winning.
The "lottery curse" only affects winners who spend extravagantly. Conservative spenders have a 0% bankruptcy rate.
The "lottery curse" only applies to the 3% who spend extravagantly. The other 67% who stayed conservative had zero bankruptcies.
Explore the full database or return to the research hub.