The current world record is reported to be the $363M jackpot won in May 2000 from The Big Game lottery in the US, now known as Mega Millions. However, that jackpot is a gross amount based on multi-year annuity payments. The cash value before taxes was approximately $180M, and had to be split between two winning tickets. Each winner took home about $60M, not bad.
However, with EuroMillions, "All winnings are paid in full with no taxes deducted." All that really matters to most of us lottery dreamers is the bottom line, the net amount.
To put things in perspective for US lottery players, either the Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot would have to increase to around $680M to equal the same cash value, after taxes, of the current EuroMillions jackpot. Someone winning at that level would take home a free and clear cash pay-out of about $222M after Uncle Sam took his cut, not bad at all.
Wish I was in Europe to take a stab at that sweet pie!
