Record $29.71M Massachusetts Megabucks Jackpot Claimed for $19.6M Cash

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Massachusetts’ largest Megabucks jackpot has moved from an unclaimed record to a completed claim—with a payment choice that illustrates why the number on a jackpot billboard is not the same as the check a cash-option winner receives.

The Massachusetts Lottery says the Mr. Potato Head Trust of Springfield claimed the record $29.71 million prize won in the September 7, 2026 drawing. NBC Boston reported on October 30 that the claim was made October 28, with trustee Hyman Darling representing the trust. The claimant chose a one-time payment of $19,635,669 before taxes.

The winning Quic Pic ticket was sold at King Mart, 494 Westfield Road in Holyoke. The retailer receives a $50,000 selling bonus. The winning numbers were 21, 28, 31, 34, 40 and 44.

Why $29.71 Million Became $19.6 Million

The two figures describe different payment structures. The advertised $29.71 million jackpot was the annuity value. Under the official Megabucks rules, an annuity winner receives 20 equal annual payments. The cash option is a single payment based on the amount allocated to fund the jackpot when it is won.

For this claim, the cash option was $19,635,669—about 66% of the advertised jackpot and $10,074,331 less than the 20-payment total. That difference is not a tax deduction or a penalty. The annuity figure includes investment growth that would occur while payments are made over time; the cash option pays the available jackpot funds immediately.

Neither choice is universally better. A lump sum offers immediate control and flexibility, but it also creates investment, security and spending decisions on day one. An annuity spreads payments across two decades and reduces the amount available immediately. The right choice depends on a winner’s finances, goals, age, risk tolerance and professional advice—not on a simple slogan about always taking cash.

Megabucks winners have 60 days beginning the day after the drawing to select a payment option. If a jackpot winner does not claim the prize and choose within that window, the rules say the prize is automatically paid as an annuity.

The Prize Is Still Before Taxes

The $19,635,669 cash figure is explicitly before taxes. Massachusetts Lottery guidance says prizes over $5,000 typically have 24% withheld for federal taxes and 5% for Massachusetts taxes at payout. Withholding is only a prepayment toward tax obligations; it is not a reliable final-tax calculation.

A winner’s eventual liability can differ based on income, deductions, filing status, trust structure and other circumstances. That is why an exact “take-home” number cannot be responsibly stated from the public claim information alone.

The practical lesson is simple: compare the annuity and cash values before applying taxes, then treat withholding and final liability as separate questions. Large-prize claimants should obtain independent legal, tax and financial advice before signing documents or moving money.

What the Trust Claim Does—and Does Not Tell Us

The public claimant is the Mr. Potato Head Trust, represented by trustee Hyman Darling. The unusual name reportedly refers to someone known to the winner, but the Lottery’s disclosure does not identify the trust’s beneficial recipient.

Massachusetts allows a retail-purchased prize to be claimed through a trust, and its claim instructions direct trust claimants to the Lottery’s legal department. This does not mean every state follows the same process. Trust, publicity and anonymity rules vary widely by jurisdiction, and creating a trust after a win should be handled by a qualified attorney.

The Lottery also distinguishes retail and online purchases: its current instructions say prizes bought online are not eligible to be claimed by a trust. Players should therefore check the rules tied to the exact purchase method and game rather than assume a strategy used by one winner will work everywhere.

A Record for a Massachusetts-Only Game

Megabucks launched in 1982 and is offered only in Massachusetts. The $29.71 million prize surpassed the game’s previous jackpot record of $21,714,520, shared by eight tickets in the October 16, 1985 drawing. Before this win, the largest Megabucks jackpot paid on one ticket was $16.35 million in 2022.

The current game costs $2 per play. Players choose six numbers from 1 through 44, or receive a randomly generated Quic Pic. Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 9 p.m. The official jackpot odds are 1 in 7,059,052, and the overall odds of any prize are 1 in 39.3.

A Quic Pic did not improve those odds. Computer-generated numbers and personally selected numbers face the same random drawing and the same mathematical probability.

LotteryWarrior Take

The most useful part of this record claim is not the trust’s memorable name. It is the clear example of how three often-confused numbers work: advertised jackpot, cash option and after-tax proceeds.

The $29.71 million headline was an annuity total. The trust selected $19,635,669 in immediate cash before taxes. The amount ultimately retained will depend on tax liability and financial decisions that have not been publicly disclosed.

For ordinary players, this is also a reminder to keep expectations grounded. A record jackpot does not make any ticket more likely to win, and previous results do not make particular numbers “due.” If you play, set an entertainment budget before buying and never borrow or chase losses.

Reader question: If you won a jackpot with both options available, would you prefer one cash payment or equal annual payments—and what professional advice would you seek first?

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