It’s the dream of every slots player all over the world – to spin the reels, expecting nothing, only to feel the surge of adrenaline rushing through your veins as the realization slowly dawns that you have won millions of dollars and are set up for life.
Who wouldn’t want to win a mega jackpot? I know I certainly would!
Read about the biggest wins in Vegas Slots History, with Progressive Jackpot payouts over $30,000,000 USD. Las Vegas in Nevada is the perfect holiday destination which offers a complete package of fun and entertainment to the entire family, and people can find their luck on the gambling side as well.
- However, many gamblers love playing the slots and the city also offers some of the largest slot jackpots in the world, as evidenced by some of the big recent wins hit in the city.
- LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Caesars Palace saw its first major jackpot Friday, just a day after it reopened their doors to the public and welcomed back tourists to Las Vegas. A tourist from Los Angeles is feeling pretty lucky after winning more than $650,000 at the resort.
- Finally an amazing handpay jackpot on CLEOPATRA 2 at Encore Las Vegas!!! This is my biggest handpay jackpot EVER on Cleopatra 2 and my biggest handpay o.
- This massive slot jackpot in Las Vegas was won on just a $5 wager. The winning spin came at exactly 8:10 am. It’s great news for this gambler. $2.2 million is one of the biggest slot jackpots in recent memory. Fortunately, this isn’t the first huge slot win and won’t be the last. Let’s take a look at some other jackpot winners in recent memory.
Yet, for some lucky slots players, the dream becomes a reality. Every day in Vegas and other casinos around the world, players walk in hoping and walk out smiling from ear to ear.
Every now and then, the jackpots are unthinkably big. I took an urge recently to discover some of the biggest slots jackpots of all time, and I put together this list of the 10 biggest ever Las Vegas jackpots just for you.
Enjoy, and remember – if you’re not in, you can’t win!
From Software Engineer to Baller
Sometimes the fates of ordinary people take extraordinary turns, and that was definitely the case when an unnamed software engineer from L.A. walked into the Excalibur Casino in Las Vegas in 2003 and burned his way through $100 on Megabucks slot.
By the time he was done, he had $39,710,826 in his back pocket, winning the biggest jackpot ever paid out in Vegas, a record which still stands to this day.
The lucky winner chose to remain anonymous, so we can’t tell you who he was. All we know is that he was 25 at the time, and we can bet he didn’t go to work coding for the firm the following Monday!
A Tip From the Gods
Video pocker gratis. If you’ve ever worked in the service industry, you probably remember the biggest tip you ever received. Cynthia Jay-Brennan, a 37-year-old cocktail waitress probably remembered hers, too, but it wouldn’t have been anything like the tip she was about to receive from life itself on a January night at the Desert Inn in Vegas.
Cynthia won $34,959,458 when playing Megabucks, which was the biggest jackpot ever paid in Las Vegas until our anonymous software engineer came along three years later and topped it.
Sadly, lady luck can be a fickle mistress, and Cynthia got rear-ended by a drunk driver at 60mph six weeks later, leaving her paralyzed from the chest down. On the one hand, she was lucky to survive since her older sister was killed outright, but on the other, this is a tragically sad story and is a reminder that you should never drink and drive.
Some attribute the accident to “The Curse of Megabucks”, a legend claiming that winning the Megabucks jackpot ultimately results in the winner’s misfortune, but there’s little evidence to support such a theory.
When Bad Decisions Pay Off
Generally speaking, I preach time and time again that one of the key tenets of responsible gambling is to never exceed your intended budget. However, I’m also aware that the moment can take you places you didn’t intend to go, and that rule is a lot easier stated than kept.
Sometimes, breaking the budget pays off, as was the case for Johanna Heundl, a 67-year-old retired flight attend playing the Megabucks slot machine in Vegas. She set a budget of $100, but got carried away and ended up feeding the machine $300 over the course of her gaming session.
While this is the starting point of far too many bad nights, it was the start of a stellar one for Johanna. She wound up winning $22,621,229, and I bet her golden years were a lot more golden thereafter.
The Fastest $21.3 Million Ever Made
Sometimes, good luck is just written in your stars, and a big payout is simply meant for you, as this case illustrates perfectly.
A 29-year-old business consultant (who chose to remain anonymous) walked up to the Megabucks slot machine at Caesar’s Palace, fed the machine $10, and hit spin. As luck would have it, he won $21.3 million on that first tap of the button, probably inducing a state of shock that would have killed many men.
While he didn’t give his name, he did reveal that he was a business consultant by profession. It’s a safe bet that was the greatest return he ever made on any investment.
However, the poor soul who had just finished playing before him probably didn’t ever recover!
Some Guys Have All the Luck
It’s been a question which philosophers have pondered for millennia – why do some people have such rotten, destitute luck in life, while others seem to be born with a golden horseshoe stuck where the sun doesn’t shine? I’m sure Aristotle put it more elegantly than that, but you get the picture!
Elmer Sherwin was one of those guys who lady luck has a fondness of, because not only did he live well into his nineties, but he won two slots jackpots over the course of his long life. The first was at the Mirage in 1989 ($4.6 million) and the second was at the Cannery Casino ($21.1 million) when he was the ripe old age of 92.
I’m not sure what he did with it at that age, but I’m sure he had a blast in the sunset years of his life, and his descendants were well taken care of.
The Lord Works In Mysterious Ways
Gambling and the religious are not two things I would immediately link together in my mind, but hey, I guess people are people and one doesn’t necessarily prohibit the other.
In 2014, a local man decided to drop $20 into the Megabucks slot machine just for kicks. A few minutes later he was $14.3 million up, and he knew right away what he was going to do.
Lucky local won $14 Million #jackpot on #MegaBucks today. #Summerlin‘sHomeforJackpots #LasVegaspic.twitter.com/93HvqrtuHP
— Rampart Casino (@RampartCasino) December 1, 2014
I admit the first thing that would come to my mind if I won that kind of cash is champagne and longing on the deck of a cruise ship in the Caribbean, but that’s the sinner in me I suppose. This man had another idea – he was going to build a church to help the one he had been attending in a local gym.
One For the Road
One for the road is the premise of too many tragic stories in movies and books, but this is one occasion where deciding you have nothing left to lose and playing down to the wire was a great choice.
Back in 2011, a lady who has chosen to remain anonymous, had given up after an unfruitful night of gaming at the Aria. She was actually on her way back to her room when she decided to sink her last $6 into Megabucks.
As if the gods of fortune had been testing her resolve, she won $12.7 million as a result. There are so many cliche quotes about trying one last time I could use here, but I’ll spare you.
I’ll bet this lady is glad she did try again, though, wherever she is today.
You’ve Got Mail – And it’s a Check!
I’ve written another post on this site about lotto winners who lost it all, some of whom claim the win ruined their lives. As it turns out, there are slots winners who claim the same, and this story is about one of them.
John Tippin was a postal worker on an average salary when he landed an $11 million Megabucks jackpot in Vegas. Yet, in 2001 he released a book called “I DID IT! My life after Megabucks” in which he claims the life-changing win made him lonely, paranoid and caused him to isolate himself.
I for one wouldn’t mind switching places with him. I bet I could find the right balance needed to deal with a win like that. How about you?
Winning at the Wynn
Another winner who has chosen to stay anonymous is a lady from Hawaii who won $10.7 million playing slots at the Wynn casino.
Biggest Jackpot In Vegas
It turns out that she won the fortune while playing for $3 spins on the Megabucks Wynn Wheel machine, which was created especially for this casino and is named after its founder.
While most of us would definitely consider taking a vacation to Hawaii after such a win, this lucky lady gets to spend the rest of her life there spending the vast fortune she accumulated while on vacation in Vegas.
That’s what Vegas is all about, is it not?
Instant Karma’s Gonna’ Get You
I think we can all agree that the brave men and women in uniform who risk life and limb to protect us deserve a little luck more than almost anyone else, and this story shows that it can happen.
![Biggest slot winners in vegas Biggest slot winners in vegas](https://thegrio.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Powerball-winner.jpg)
In February 2012, a 26-year-old US marine named Alexander Degenhardt sunk $100 into Money Vault Millionaires Seven slot at the Bellagio casino. He walked away with $2.9 million and had been in the city for a little R&R while training at a nearby Air Force base.
When interviewed by CNN later, he credits karma for the win, since he had been accepted as a bone marrow donor just a few days earlier. He also decided to stay on and serve in the military, proving what an upstanding guy he truly is!
Despite the fact that the odds of hitting a multimillion-dollar progressive jackpot on a Las Vegas slot machine are almost impossible, the truth is that it happens. Not to everyone, and not frequently, but it happens enough times for you to take a try yourself.
It seems that it happens even more frequently at online casinos. The biggest so far have been registered at Microgaming and NetEnt casinos, both unavailable to American players, where the biggest amounts paid out have been more than $20 million all of them won in the last couple of years.
You can try to find casino reviews of online casinos that accept American players, but you won’t find such big jackpots there and these are usually of low reputation. Maybe you can try using bitcoins, because more and more reputable online casinos accept bitcoins. It’s anonymous and no bank can block your transaction as explained at PureNetEnt.com.
Anyway, let’s see the biggest progressive jackpots in Las Vegas.
August 23, 2014 – $2.4 Million
The Lion’s Share slot at the MGM Grand is one tough slot machine known for not paying out a jackpot for more than 20 years until it was lit up by Walter and Linda Misco from New Hampshire in 2014. Just five minutes after they started breaking their $100 bill on this slot machine they won the $2.4 million jackpot. When asked what they will do with the money they said that they will pay for their grandchildren’s education.
The Lion’s Share slot at the MGM Grand is one tough slot machine known for not paying out a jackpot for more than 20 years until it was lit up by Walter and Linda Misco from New Hampshire in 2014. Just five minutes after they started breaking their $100 bill on this slot machine they won the $2.4 million jackpot. When asked what they will do with the money they said that they will pay for their grandchildren’s education.
The Lion’s Share 2.4 million dollar jackpot at the MGM Grand
February 19, 2012 – $2.9 Million
In 2012 a 26-year old U.S. Marine, Alexander Degenhardt was playing the Money Vault Millionaires Seven slot at the Bellagio on his day off from the Nellis Air Force base when suddenly he won nearly $2.9 million. He said he never won more than $200 on a slot machine, and this time he won a total of $2,882,808.32.
In 2012 a 26-year old U.S. Marine, Alexander Degenhardt was playing the Money Vault Millionaires Seven slot at the Bellagio on his day off from the Nellis Air Force base when suddenly he won nearly $2.9 million. He said he never won more than $200 on a slot machine, and this time he won a total of $2,882,808.32.
December 5, 2013 – $10,337,640
This jackpot was won on the Megabucks slot machine at the MGM Grand from the slot manufacturer IGT. Actually, the man that was identified as the winner of this jackpot was actually the executive producer of the movie “All American Christmas Carol” from 2013 with Meat Loaf in the leading role. The producer’s name was Mark Hodos.
This jackpot was won on the Megabucks slot machine at the MGM Grand from the slot manufacturer IGT. Actually, the man that was identified as the winner of this jackpot was actually the executive producer of the movie “All American Christmas Carol” from 2013 with Meat Loaf in the leading role. The producer’s name was Mark Hodos.
April 22, 2011 – $10.6 Million
Two years earlier a jackpot lightning struck the same Megabucks slot machine made by IGT and an unidentified gambler took home $10.6 million. This slot machine was introduced in 1986 and had never paid out more than $10 million until it did for the first time in 1995 at the Gold Coast. This was the second time it did that at the Aria.
Two years earlier a jackpot lightning struck the same Megabucks slot machine made by IGT and an unidentified gambler took home $10.6 million. This slot machine was introduced in 1986 and had never paid out more than $10 million until it did for the first time in 1995 at the Gold Coast. This was the second time it did that at the Aria.
January 21, 2011 – $12.7 Million
Three months earlier the Aria celebrated another jackpot winner, this time a lady that was on her way to her room, but still decided to try her luck with a $6 bill before going to bed on the Megabucks slot. If she didn’t do it she would walk away to her room retire for the night without $12.7 million in her pocket. First she thought the slot machine broke down, but her niece assured her that she is a millionaire.
Three months earlier the Aria celebrated another jackpot winner, this time a lady that was on her way to her room, but still decided to try her luck with a $6 bill before going to bed on the Megabucks slot. If she didn’t do it she would walk away to her room retire for the night without $12.7 million in her pocket. First she thought the slot machine broke down, but her niece assured her that she is a millionaire.
September 15, 2005 – $21,147,947
This is maybe the oldest jackpot winner ever, Elmer Sherwin, 92, who won $21.1 million on the Megabucks slot at the Cannery Casino in North Las Vegas. What’s even more fascinating is that this was his second jackpot on the same slot machine after he won another one at the Mirage in 1989 of $4.6 million. What he said after winning the second one was that his lifelong dream was to win the jackpot twice.
This is maybe the oldest jackpot winner ever, Elmer Sherwin, 92, who won $21.1 million on the Megabucks slot at the Cannery Casino in North Las Vegas. What’s even more fascinating is that this was his second jackpot on the same slot machine after he won another one at the Mirage in 1989 of $4.6 million. What he said after winning the second one was that his lifelong dream was to win the jackpot twice.
June 1, 1999 – $21,346,952.22
Imagine winning more than $21.3 million on the first spin! This is what happened to a 49-year-old business consultant on the Megabucks slot at Caesars Palace in 1999. He deposit $10 and after just one spin cashed in $21.3 million.
March 27, 2002 – $22,618,156.67
Covina, California, probably saw its first millionaire citizen after Johanna Huendl, 74, won $22.6 million on Bally’s Megabucks slot. She was on her way to a breakfast at her hotel and decided to spend $170 on this amazing slot machine that has made many millionaires. She first thought that she won only $2 million after misreading the flash sign.
Covina, California, probably saw its first millionaire citizen after Johanna Huendl, 74, won $22.6 million on Bally’s Megabucks slot. She was on her way to a breakfast at her hotel and decided to spend $170 on this amazing slot machine that has made many millionaires. She first thought that she won only $2 million after misreading the flash sign.
Johanna Huendl, 74, won $22.6 million on Bally’s Megabucks slot machine.
November 15, 1998 – $27,580,879.60
This 67-year-old retired flight attendant from Las Vegas is only one in the long line of retired elderly slot machine players that became rich from playing Megabucks. This unnamed woman won the Megabucks jackpot in Palace Station after putting $300. She first intended to play with only $100, but changed her mind after which the slot rewarded her with millions. This was her second big jackpot. She won the Wheel of Fortune slot machine jackpot of $680,000 at Palace Station some years earlier. This was also the first time that the Megabucks machine paid out $20 million.
This 67-year-old retired flight attendant from Las Vegas is only one in the long line of retired elderly slot machine players that became rich from playing Megabucks. This unnamed woman won the Megabucks jackpot in Palace Station after putting $300. She first intended to play with only $100, but changed her mind after which the slot rewarded her with millions. This was her second big jackpot. She won the Wheel of Fortune slot machine jackpot of $680,000 at Palace Station some years earlier. This was also the first time that the Megabucks machine paid out $20 million.
January 26, 2000 – $34,955,489.56
Being a Las Vegas cocktail waitress has really paid off for Cynthia Jay in 2000. She decided to play the Megabucks slot at the Desert Inn and won $34.9 million. However, after six weeks people fueled up the myth that bad things happen to jackpot winners because she was rear-ended by a drunk driver, which left her paralyzed and killed her sister. It’s one of the most notorious urban legends in Las Vegas.
Being a Las Vegas cocktail waitress has really paid off for Cynthia Jay in 2000. She decided to play the Megabucks slot at the Desert Inn and won $34.9 million. However, after six weeks people fueled up the myth that bad things happen to jackpot winners because she was rear-ended by a drunk driver, which left her paralyzed and killed her sister. It’s one of the most notorious urban legends in Las Vegas.
Biggest Jackpots In Vegas
Cynthia Cynthia Jay hit Megabucks at the Desert Inn and won $34.9 million.
Largest Jackpots In Vegas
March 21, 2003 – $39,710,826.36
And here is the biggest recorded so far, a $39.7 million jackpot won by a 25-year-old software engineer from Los Angeles. Do we even need to mention the game on which the jackpot was won? Anyway, the odds to hit this jackpot were 16.7 million.
And here is the biggest recorded so far, a $39.7 million jackpot won by a 25-year-old software engineer from Los Angeles. Do we even need to mention the game on which the jackpot was won? Anyway, the odds to hit this jackpot were 16.7 million.