8 Biggest Unclaimed Lottery Prizes in History That Will Make You Double-Check Your Tickets

Imagine the horror: you’ve finally hit the jackpot, but somehow you misplace the winning ticket or never even realize you’ve won. Nightmarish, right? But believe it or not, it happens more often than you’d think, with millions left unclaimed each year around the world. Here’s an updated roundup of some of the largest unclaimed lottery prizes in history—missed opportunities that will make you double-check your own lottery tickets.

1. The £65 Million Unclaimed EuroMillions Jackpot in the UK

In 2012, someone in the Stevenage and Hitchin area of Hertfordshire, UK, purchased a EuroMillions ticket that matched all the winning numbers—a jackpot worth a staggering £65 million. Despite a media frenzy and a massive campaign to find the winner, nobody came forward within the 180-day claim period. The unclaimed jackpot was ultimately redirected to the National Lottery’s Good Causes fund, supporting various projects in the UK. As of now, this remains the largest unclaimed prize in UK lottery history.

2. California’s $63 Million SuperLotto Plus—The Ticket That Was Too Damaged

In the US, the largest unclaimed jackpot to date is the infamous $63 million SuperLotto Plus prize from California in 2015. A ticket bought in Chatsworth, California, was the winner, but no one came forward within the six-month deadline.

The story didn’t end there. A man named Brandy Milliner claimed he had the winning ticket but was told it was “too damaged” to be verified. Milliner sued the California Lottery, saying he had submitted the ticket and initially received a congratulations message. The lottery, however, insisted they never received the claim. To this day, no one has successfully claimed the prize, and it remains an unsolved mystery. The money was eventually returned to the California public school system.

3. Dual Unclaimed Jackpot in the UK: Two Tickets, Zero Claims

In 2006, a National Lottery jackpot worth £1.667 million was split between two winning tickets sold in the UK—one in Glasgow and the other in Warwickshire. Shockingly, neither ticket holder came forward. The prize expired, and both winnings were added to the UK’s Good Causes fund.

While smaller than the £65 million EuroMillions prize, it’s remarkable for being a “double unclaimed”—a rare occurrence that’s both mysterious and heartbreaking for anyone who’s ever dreamed of winning big.

4. The $31 Million Mega Millions Mystery in Queens, New York

The US has seen its share of massive unclaimed prizes, including a $31 million Mega Millions jackpot from 2006. The winning ticket, bought somewhere in Queens, New York, remained unclaimed even after the media and lottery officials narrowed down the location.

Queens has seen similar lottery mishaps before. A $68 million prize in 2002 and a $46 million jackpot in 2003 also went unclaimed, leading many to wonder if Queens is the unluckiest lucky borough in the Big Apple.

5. Canada’s $5 Million Jackpot Goes Unclaimed—Twice!

Canada, while often experiencing fewer unclaimed prizes, has had a few notable cases. In Ontario alone, prizes worth millions go unclaimed each year. In 2004, a $5 million ticket expired, and in 1989, a $4.5 million jackpot went unclaimed as well. It’s not just the US and UK—even Canadians occasionally overlook these life-changing prizes, leaving many to wonder if the habit of checking tickets might be due for a Canadian revival.

6. The Curious Case of Fritzner Bechette and the $63 Million “Lost Ticket”

Back in 2002, a man named Fritzner Bechette from Brooklyn claimed he won a Mega Millions jackpot on Christmas Eve but had “lost the ticket.” Bechette filed a lawsuit against the New York Lottery, claiming he was owed $63 million in winnings along with accumulated interest. However, Bechette couldn’t provide any proof of ownership, and the New York Lottery stated that no ticket matching his description existed. Unsurprisingly, the court ruled against him, and Bechette’s claim remains one of the more bizarre cases in lottery history.

7. Australia’s $50 Million Powerball Ghost Winner

In 2020, Australia’s Powerball announced that a ticket sold in Sydney had won the $50 million prize—but no one came forward. The lottery organization tried to locate the winner, even releasing clues on where the ticket was sold, but the jackpot went unclaimed, marking one of the largest unclaimed lottery prizes in Australian history. Unlike the US, which often repurposes unclaimed funds for education or other initiatives, Australia’s lottery prizes generally return to a reserve fund for future jackpots.

8. The Michigan Lotto 47 Mystery: $1 Million Unclaimed

In Michigan, a winning Lotto 47 ticket worth $1 million expired without a claimant in 2021. The ticket, sold at a gas station in Davison, went unclaimed even though the Michigan Lottery repeatedly reminded players about it. The $1 million prize was eventually returned to the Michigan School Aid Fund, which supports K-12 education in the state. Though small in comparison to the other jackpots, this one joins a long list of mysteriously unclaimed prizes.

Why Do So Many Big Prizes Go Unclaimed?

While it’s hard to imagine forgetting about a life-changing win, there are several reasons why lottery prizes go unclaimed:

• Lost Tickets: People lose tickets more often than you’d think. A ticket stuffed in a glove compartment, a wallet, or a drawer can be easily overlooked.
• Checking the Wrong Numbers: Some players misunderstand the draw format or misinterpret their tickets, leading them to discard what could be a winner.
• Unawareness of Smaller Prizes: Players often focus on massive jackpots and miss secondary prizes, which can also be significant.
• Damaged or Defaced Tickets: A winning ticket that’s faded or damaged can be tricky to claim without legible numbers or barcodes.
• Travelers Forgetting to Claim: Tourists or people traveling for business might buy a ticket in another state or country and forget about it once they’re home.

Lessons from the Unluckiest Winners

The big takeaway here is simple: always check your tickets! These stories show that fortune doesn’t play favorites; it’s available to anyone, anywhere, who buys a ticket—and remembers to claim it. Keep your tickets safe, check your numbers carefully, and don’t let procrastination keep you from cashing in on a win.

While some of these unclaimed jackpots have helped fund schools, public programs, and charitable projects, the sad truth is that they could have changed lives directly. So the next time you buy a lottery ticket, remember the stories of these forgotten fortunes and keep that ticket close.