It’s been years since a South Carolinian hit the jackpot for Mega Millions or Powerball. But for those who dream of winning big, the odds of winning big may not be in their favor.
South Carolina has had many big lottery wins over the years, but it’s not one of the luckiest places in the United States, according to Jackpot.com. But it is not bad either.
The ongoing Powerball drawing has produced several small wins for ticket buyers in the Palmetto State, with the most recent South Carolina wins coming from Dec. 17: Ticket Price $50,000 was purchased in JK Mart at 5102 Two Notch Road Colombia. Another ticket price $50,000 Food Lion #1605, 7631 N. Kings Hwy. was purchased in Myrtle Beach.
And while it may have been a while to win a big jackpot in the state, South Carolina is also home to a billion-dollar ticket winner, along with many other winners.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest Powerball and Mega Millions prizes won in South Carolina and when the next big Powerball drawing is.
Powerball prizes are up to $820 million, and one of the Million Dollar Club sites is at the Kash Corner Energy Mart store on State Highway 418 in Simpsonville, SC on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
What was the top Powerball, Mega Millions jackpot win in South Carolina?
The biggest winning ticket in the Palmetto State actually came from upstate.
In October 2018, the $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot winner was an anonymous South Carolina woman who bought her ticket while visiting Greenville County. Casey Mart in Simpsonville. She opted for a one-time lump sum payment of $877,784,124, according to South Carolina Lottery officials.
It was the biggest win ever in South Carolina and the last time South Carolina won the jackpot.
Biggest Lottery Winners in South Carolina
Sweta Vora, right, and clerk DJ Smith in the hallway with past winners, some of Powerball, at the Kash Corner Energy Mart store on State Highway 418 in Simpsonville, SC Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.
In South Carolina, lottery winners can remain anonymous. So, while the names of the winners aren’t always available, we do know where and when some of the biggest wins have happened.
Here’s a look at some of the other biggest jackpots won in the state and where they were won.
Hot Dog Buns vs. Lottery Tickets: 2013 Powerball Win, Columbia
The previous record holder before the 2018 Mega Millions win was a man who bought a $400 million Powerball ticket in the District of Columbia in 2013, who never wanted to be identified.
According to Greenville News reports, on the day of the Powerball drawing, the man stopped for gas at a Murphy Express in Lexington, where his wife called and asked him to pick up hot dog buns, officials said. He didn’t find any buns, but he left with $20 in Powerball tickets.
Pastor moving forward with a big Powerball win
Rev. Solomon Jackson Jr. didn’t hide behind anonymity to claim his $260 million Powerball prize in 2009.
Jackson bought the ticket at a Murphy USA gas station on Garners Ferry Road in Columbia.
He grew up in Columbia and retired from the state Department of Revenue. Jackson reportedly gave some of his earnings to educational causes, including $500,000 to buy two 56-seat luxury coach buses for Benedict College, according to previous reporting.
What was the first Mega Millions, Powerball jackpot won in South Carolina?
A couple from Charlotte, North Carolina, were actually the first South Carolina jackpot winners.
Anthony and Monica Wilson were identified as the winners of the $88 million jackpot in 2003. A store near Fort Mill sold the state’s first-ever winning Powerball ticket from the Red Rockets on US 21 near Fort Mill.
Has no state ever had a Powerball jackpot winner?
A lot actually.
Lottery players in Maine, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Wyoming have all had bad luck picking jackpot-winning tickets. Because these states participate in the Powerball Lottery, these states have not sold jackpot-winning Powerball tickets.
When is the next Powerball drawing?
Another Powerball drawing continues Monday, December 22, At approximately 10:59 pm ET/9:59 pm CT. Powerball has three drawings each week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
What are the odds of winning Powerball?
Odds of winning the Powerball jackpot 1 in 292.2 million.
How to play Powerball
Want to play Powerball but not sure how it works? Here are some things to know.
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To play Powerball, you first select five white ball numbers. These five numbers will be between one and 69. Then, pick a “powerball” or red ball number. This number will be between one and 26.
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For an extra dollar, you can choose the “Power Play,” which multiplies all non-grand prizes by a factor of 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10.
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If you match at least one number in the Powerball drawing, you win a prize.
Where to buy lottery tickets in SC? Can I buy one online?
In South Carolina, tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores, and some grocery stores statewide.
According to the South Carolina Education Lottery, Powerball and other lottery tickets are not sold online in South Carolina.
When do I need to buy Powerball tickets for the next drawing?
You have some time until the next drawing, but sales of Powerball tickets end at retail stores at 9:59 p.m. on the day of the drawing.
What is the biggest prize in Powerball history?
Here’s how the biggest jackpot prizes in Powerball history stack up:
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$2.040 billion, won on November 7, 2022 in California
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$1.787 billion, won on September 6, 2025 in Missouri and Texas
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$1.765 billion, won on October 11, 2023 in California
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Estimated $1.6 billion, current Powerball diagram
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$1.586 billion, won in California, Florida and Tennessee on January 13, 2016
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$1.326 billion, won on April 6, 2024 in Oregon
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$1.080 billion, won on July 19, 2023 in California
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$842.4 million, won on January 1, 2024 in Michigan
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$768.4 million won in Wisconsin on March 27, 2019
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$758.7 million, won on August 23, 2017 in Massachusetts
USA Today contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared in Greenville News: Has SC ever had a $1B lottery winner? The biggest prize, another drawing
