Can you stay anonymous if you win the lottery? Some states allow lottery winners to stay anonymous, while others do not. A few states have set stipulations for winners who wish to be discreet, and there are a few states that don't even have their own lotteries to play.

Mega Millions followed a similar path. Its first jackpot winner in 2002 took home $28 million. Its record prize — a $1.602 billion jackpot won on Aug. 8, 2023 — ranks as the fourth-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history.