After reading about Clark Gas, a Loves Park gas station selling a winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket worth $400,000 a couple days back, I thought it might be fun to see who's won the big lottery money and how much they walked away with (pre-tax).

So, for just a moment, forget about the astronomical odds against winning a lottery jackpot being about 1 in 259 million, or that you've got a better chance of being struck by lightning at 1 in 12,000--and live vicariously through some winners.

Hand holding a quarter on a scratcher ticket with a pile of bills on top
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Illinois' Biggest All-Time Lottery Winners Walked Away With A 9-Figure Total

According to my research and search efforts, Illinois has produced 7 winners that have taken home a figure in excess of $100 million through the Powerball or Mega Millions games (hat-tip to PortalSeven.com):

  • August 11th, 2017: Patricia Busking won the $393 million Mega Millions jackpot with a ticket purchased in Palos Heights.
  • September 16th, 2016: The Elaine Francis Trust took the Mega Millions jackpot for $134 million.
  • June 2, 2015: Another Mega Millions jackpot paid out big to John Williams and Neal Logue, who won $262 million.
  • January 16, 2015: Turned out to be a really good day for Jesus Davila Jr., who added $265 million to his bank account after winning Mega Millions.
  • May 4, 2012: Mega Millions again, this time paying out $118 million to a group calling themselves "The Dirty Dozen."
  • March 30, 2012: This is the biggest of the big wins. $656 million dollars in the Mega Millions jackpot went to Merle and Patricia Butler, who bought their ticket in Red Bud, Illinois.
  • December 18, 2007: A group calling themselves the JYS Family Limited Partnership didn't win half a billion dollars or better like the couple above, but I think that they were probably okay with a Mega Millions jackpot win of $163 million.

$10 Million Illinois Mansion with Most Incredible Features We've Ever Seen

This award-winning home is 21,000-square-feet of unmatched luxury. So many gorgeous features that will take your breath away. Take a look at Shamrock Manor.

KEEP READING: See the richest person in every state

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