The biggest cash prize in U.S. lottery history was awarded today to Louisa White, 81, of Newport, R.I.
The advertised annuity - $336.4 million - was staggering, but not a record-setter. Five annuities were bigger, including two in Powerball.
But the $210 million cash prize beats all the competition, topping a record set in March 2011 by a New York winner in Mega Millions.
Mega Millions has produced two bigger cash jackpots, but each was split.
The corresponding cash has been higher in recent years because of low interest rates. It simply takes more money now to build an annuity that pays $300 million or more.
Here's a list of the 25 biggest lump sums paid to U.S. winners. Only one split jackpot makes the list, tying for No. 25.
1. $210 million cash, Powerball, won Feb. 11, 2012. One Rhode Island winner. Annuity was $336.4 million.
2. $202.8 million cash, Mega Millions, won March 25, 2011. One New York winner. Annuity: $319 million. (Record for cash and annuity jackpots hit by a single Mega Millions ticket.)
3. $177.3 million cash, Powerball, won Feb. 18, 2006. One Nebraska ticket. Annuity: $365 million. (Record annuity prize with a single winner for any U.S. lottery.)
4. $175 million cash, Mega Millions, won Nov. 15, 2005. One California ticket. Annuity: $315 million.
5. $168 million cash, Mega Millions, July 2, 2004. One Massachusetts ticket. Annuity: $294 million.
6. $167.7 million cash, Mega Millions, Feb. 22, 2008. One Georgia ticket. Annuity: $275 million.
7. $165 million cash, Mega Millions, May 4, 2010. One California ticket. Annuity: $266 million.
8. $164.4 million cash, Powerball, won Oct. 19, 2005. One Oregon ticket. Annuity: $340 million.
9. $164 million cash, Mega Millions, won Feb. 28, 2006. One Ohio ticket. Annuity: $270 million.
10. $161.5 million cash, Mega Millions, won July 29, 1998. One Indiana ticket. Annuity: $295.7 million.
11 $156.1 million cash, Mega Millions, won Sept. 16, 2005. One New Jersey ticket. Annuity: $258 million.
12. $153.3 million. Mega Millions, won Dec. 27, 2011. One New York ticket. Annuity: $208 million.
13. $151.7 million cash, Powerball, won Nov. 2, 2011. One Connecticut ticket. Annuity: $254 million.
14. $148.1 million cash, Mega Millions, won April 18, 2006. One Ohio ticket. Annuity: $265 million.
15. $146 million, Powerball, won Aug. 25, 2007. One Indiana ticket. Annuity: $314.3 million.
16. $141.5 million, Mega Millions, won on Feb. 20, 2004. One Virginia ticket. Annuity: $239 million.
17. $141 million, Mega Millions, won on Dec. 12, 2008. One Ohio ticket. Annuity: $207 million.
18. $140 million, Mega Millions, won on March 3, 2009. One New Jersey ticket. Annuity: $216 million.
19. $139.4 million cash, Powerball, won Mar. 15, 2008. One West Virginia ticket. Annuity: $276 million.
20. $134.9 million cash, Powerball, won June 2, 2010. One Ohio ticket. Annuity: $261.6 million.
21. $129.8 million cash, Powerball, won Aug. 19, 2009. One South Carolina ticket. Annuity: $259.9 million.
22. $125 million, Mega Millions, won on Oct. 16, 2009. One Virginia ticket. Annuity: $200 million.
23. $124.9 million, Powerball, won April 21, 2010. One Missouri ticket. Annuity: $258.5 million.
24. $123.6 million cash, Powerball, won Aug. 10, 2011. One Minnesota ticket. Annuity: $228.9 million.
25 (tie). $120 million cash, Powerball, won on Jan. 24, 2007. One Missouri ticket. Annuity: $254 million.
25 (tie). $120 million cash, Mega Millions, won Jan. 4, 2011. Two tickets, in Idaho and Washington State, split record total of $240 million. Annuity: $380 million (second highest ever).
