January 2021 has been an exciting month for lottery pundits across the globe. First of all, on 20 January 2021, the US Powerball jackpot of $731 million was won by a single ticket, its first winner in several months. Secondly, the Mega Millions jackpot of just over $1 billion was won on 22 January 2021. Lastly, only three days later, the South African Lottery with a jackpot of R60 million (circa $4 million) was won by a South African man. As an aside, what made this win all the more valuable is that his relationship ended days before this windfall.
East Coast Radio news reports that about a week before his lotto jackpot win, a 33-year-old Johannesburg man woke up to discover that his live-in girlfriend had terminated their relationship. Apart from the fact that he works in the finance sector, he remains unidentified. When interviewed about his win, he noted that because he is financially-savvy, he will invest the money to ensure that it keeps on working for him and increasing in value.
As an aside, he noted that he would buy his ex-girlfriend a fridge and possibly a washing machine to say, “no hard feelings.”
January: The month of lotto jackpot records
The first month of the year seems to be the month that produces the most lottery jackpot wins. Statistics reported for the years 2000 to 2021 show that the following lotto jackpots have been won in the month of January.
Mega Millions: 4 January 2011
This jackpot of $380 million annuity amount or $240 million cash was won by 1 person from Idaho and 1 person from Washington. The winning numbers were 4, 8, 15, 25, 47, and the bonus number 42.
(Source: Usamega.com)
US Powerball: 13 January 2016
This lottery jackpot still holds the record of the World’s largest jackpot for both the cash amount ($983.50 million) and annuity amount ($1.586 billion). The winning numbers were 08, 27, 34, 04, 19, and Powerball number 10. And the winning tickets were sold in California, Florida, and Tennessee.
(Source: Vox.com)
Mega Millions: 5 January 2018
The Mega Millions jackpot, drawn on 5 January 2018, was won by a single lottery ticket purchased in Florida. The winning amount was $450 million, and the winning numbers were 28, 30, 39, 59, 70, and a bonus number of 10.
(Source: Multilotto)
US Powerball: 6 January 2018
Just one day after the January 2018 Mega Millions jackpot was won, the US Powerball jackpot of $559.7 million was won. It was won by a single ticket, purchased in New Hampshire, USA. Lastly, the winning numbers were 12, 29, 30, 33, 61, and a Powerball number of 26.
(Source: Usamega.com)
Mega Millions: 1 January 2019
Almost 1 year later, the Mega Millions jackpot was once again won, this time on the first day of January 2019. The jackpot amount of $425 million was won by a single ticket, bought in New York. The jackpot numbers were 34, 44, 57, 62, 70, and the bonus ball was 14.
(Source: Multilotto)
Powerball: 29 January 2020
The US Powerball jackpot for 29 January 2020 was won by a single ticket purchased in Florida, USA. The total jackpot value was $394 million. And the winning numbers were 9, 12, 15, 31, 60 with a Powerball number of 2.
(Source: Mlive.com)
Powerball: 20 January 2021
This Powerball jackpot, won by a single ticket purchased in Maryland, USA. This jackpot holds the record of being the fifth-largest Powerball jackpot and the sixth-largest jackpot in American history. It was also the third-largest cash value for a single ticket. The winning numbers for the jackpot amount of $731.1 million or $546.8 million cash were 40, 53, 60, 68, 69, and the Powerball number was 22.
(Source: Mlive.com)
Mega Millions: 22 January 2021
The jackpot amount of $1.05 billion is the second-largest jackpot in the history of the Mega Millions jackpot. It is only the eighth time that the jackpot amount has exceeded $500 million. As an aside, the largest Mega Millions jackpot amount was valued at $1.537 billion and was won on 23 October 2018 by a ticket purchased in South Carolina, USA. The ticket for this January 2021 Mega Millions draw was bought in Michigan, USA, and the winning numbers were 4, 26, 42, 50, 60, and a bonus number of 24. (Source: Cnn.com)