Who Are the Biggest Jackpot Winners in New York?

New Yorkers don’t just dream big, they win big. From Queens to Long Island to Harlem, the Empire State has produced headline-grabbing lottery jackpots that changed lives in a single draw. Below, you’ll find the most significant wins tied to New York tickets, what the winners took home, and where those lucky tickets were sold.

New York’s biggest Mega Millions winner: $476 million 

The state record belongs to Johnnie Taylor, a 71-year-old retiree from Howard Beach who managed to win the jackpot of $476 million on Mega Millions in 2023. He bought the ticket at Liberty Beer & Convenience on Liberty Avenue in Queens. When he claimed, Taylor said, “It still doesn’t feel real.” The New York Lottery confirmed his win and the location. 

Largest Powerball Win in New York: $343.8 Million 

A Harlem resident, Robert Bailey, claimed $343.8 million from the 2018 Powerball draw. He had played the same set of numbers for a quarter century. “A family member gave me the numbers over 25 years ago and I faithfully play them,” he told reporters at the claim event. He took the lump sum worth about $125.4 million after withholdings. 

Long Island’s Office Pool: $437 million 

On January 1, 2019, 23 Long Island coworkers hit $437 million on Mega Millions with a ticket sold at Brookville Auto Service in Glen Head, Nassau County. They formed New Life 2019, LLC to claim the prize. According to the New York State Gaming Commission’s release, the group chose the cash option of $262,213,914 and received a net payment of $176,155,308 after required withholdings. 

In New York, the state publicizes the winner’s details, but claiming through an entity such as an LLC can keep individual names out of the spotlight. That is precisely how the Long Island group stayed anonymous in public coverage. 

Earlier Legends That Still Rank

Before the Long Island win, retired elementary school principal Harold Diamond held the state mark with $326 million from the November 4, 2014, Mega Millions draw. He purchased the ticket at a Valero near Middletown and appeared with the New York Lottery at the check presentation. 

When you go back to 2011, you hit one of the state’s most famous office-pool stories: the “Albany Seven.” Seven New York state workers split $319 million on Mega Millions, choosing a lump sum. Their press conference drew national attention and launched a wave of copycat pools across offices statewide. 

Massive Scratch-Offs: New York’s $10 Million Club

Draw games dominate headlines, but New York scratch-offs routinely award $10 million top prizes. The most striking case is Wayne Murray of Brooklyn, who won $10 million twice in about 16 months, first on Black Titanium in 2022 and again on the 200X game in December 2023. Local outlets and the Lottery’s winner pages documented both claims. 

If you want to track current winners at a glance, the New York Lottery site posts new claim announcements that include names, hometowns, games, and prize choices. It is the best single source for statewide up-to-date winner confirmations. 

Where the Big New York Tickets Were Sold

If you like to map the luck, here are the confirmed retail locations attached to the biggest stories:

• Queens, Liberty Beer & Convenience on Liberty Avenue. Sold the $476M Mega Millions ticket to Johnnie Taylor. 
• Glen Head, Brookville Auto Service. Sold the $437M Mega Millions ticket claimed by the New Life 2019, LLC office pool. 
• West Harlem Deli, Fifth Avenue. Sold Robert Bailey’s Powerball ticket for the $343.8M win. 

What New York Winners Actually Take Home

Headline jackpots are the annuity figures. Winners can instead choose the cash option, which is smaller, and taxes will then apply. The Long Island group shows the math in public: the $437 million annuity equaled a $262.2 million cash value and a net $176.2 million after required withholdings. Bailey’s Harlem Powerball also illustrates the reality of take-home amounts after taxes. 

If you ever hold a winning ticket, verify claim procedures directly with the New York Lottery or the Gaming Commission. They publish the steps, appointment links, and media advisories. Contact the agencies listed on their official pages and ignore third-party messages when in doubt.

New York’s Winners Prove Lightning Can Strike Anywhere 

From a corner deli in Queens to a service station on Long Island to a longtime player in Harlem, New York’s biggest jackpot stories are diverse, surprising, and authentic. The current state record is $476 million (Mega Millions, 2023), followed by the $437 million Long Island coworker pool and the $343.8 million Powerball win in Harlem, with earlier legends like Harold Diamond’s $326 million still part of lottery lore. If you want to keep tabs on the following headline, rely on the official sources for verified winners, prize choices, and the latest draw and scratch-off results.