Potato Head Trust Collects Record $19.6 Million from Megabucks

Potato Head Trust collected $19,635,669 on October 28, securing the largest payout in the history of the Megabucks lottery game.

The Massachusetts Lottery confirmed that Hyman Darling, the trust's trustee, filed the claim for the $29.71 million jackpot. The group chose a single lump sum payment rather than an annuity. Darling stated the trust name honors an individual the winners know who reminded them of Mr. Potato Head.

Megabucks launched in 1982 and operates exclusively in Massachusetts. Players must match six numbers to win the progressive jackpot. Drawings occur on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 9 p.m. The winning ticket originated from the King Mart on Westfield Road in Holyoke. The store sold the ticket before the September 7 drawing and received a $50,000 bonus from the lottery authority.

This payout surpasses the previous record of $21,714,520 won on October 16, 1985. The next highest prize was $21,148,080, claimed on January 8, 1986. The 2026 win is the fifth highest prize awarded in the last four decades, following a $16,350,000 payout in September 2022.

The lottery office listed the top ten Megabucks jackpots in its records. The 1984 and 1985 prizes ranged from $14,628,740 to $18,218,080. The 1987, 1990, 2000, and 2022 prizes fell between $13,855,359 and $16,350,000.