A trust named for Mr. Potato Head claimed the record $29.71 million Megabucks jackpot in Massachusetts
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The record $29.71 million Megabucks jackpot from the September 7 drawing has been claimed by the Mr. Potato Head Trust of Springfield, the Massachusetts State Lottery said. Trustee Hyman Darling claimed the prize at the lottery's Dorchester headquarters and chose a one-time payment of $19,635,669 before taxes.
Asked about the name, Darling said the winner named it after someone they know who reminds them of Mr. Potato Head. Claiming through a trust keeps the winner's own name out of the announcement, the same route the Carrow Road Trust took with a $25 million Mega Money ticket.
The $2 ticket matched all six numbers, 21, 28, 31, 34, 40, and 44, in a drawing held on Labor Day. It is the largest Megabucks jackpot since the game began in 1982 and the biggest Massachusetts lottery prize won or claimed so far in 2026, ahead of a $25 million ticket sold at a Cumberland Farms in Turners Falls. Our story on the drawing lists the game's 10 biggest jackpots and its odds of 1 in 7,059,052.
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Advertised jackpot | $29,710,000 |
| Cash option taken | $19,635,669 |
| Federal withholding (24%) | $4,712,561 |
| Massachusetts withholding (5%) | $981,783 |
| Paid at the claim | About $13.94 million |
The cash option comes to 66.1% of the advertised prize. The trust's final tax bill will run higher than the withholding, because nearly all of the money falls in the top 37% federal bracket and Massachusetts adds a 4% surtax on income above about $1.1 million.
The ticket was sold at King Mart, 494 Westfield Road in Holyoke, and the store receives a $50,000 bonus. It also sold a $15 million scratch ticket that a Boston-based trust claimed in January 2025. The lottery's winners list shows 54 prizes of $625 or more from King Mart in 2026, 41 of them by the day after the Megabucks drawing. Ten were Keno wins. Outside the jackpot, those prizes add up to $107,151. Two other Holyoke stores, Janjua Convenience Store with 61 and Racing Mart with 60, have more entries on this year's list.
Megabucks is sold only in Massachusetts and draws Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 9 p.m. Tickets are sold in stores and online through the lottery's website and app. Massachusetts scratch tickets are ranked on the Massachusetts page.
Sources
MassLive: $29.71M record lottery jackpot claimed by Mr. Potato Head Trust
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who claimed the $29.71 million Megabucks jackpot?
The Mr. Potato Head Trust of Springfield, represented by trustee Hyman Darling. The trust claimed the prize from the September 7, 2026, drawing at the Massachusetts State Lottery's Dorchester headquarters and took the cash option of $19,635,669 before taxes.
Why is it called the Mr. Potato Head Trust?
Trustee Hyman Darling said the winner named the trust after someone they know who reminds them of Mr. Potato Head. Claiming through a trust keeps the winner's own name out of the lottery's announcement.
How much does the Megabucks winner get after taxes?
About $13.94 million at the claim. The lottery withholds 24% for federal tax and 5% for Massachusetts tax from the $19,635,669 cash option. More is due at filing time under the 37% federal bracket and the state's 4% surtax.
Jessie Jurado is a news writer who covers new scratch-off launches, state lottery guides, taxes on winnings, news, and much more. She joined ScratchCheck in 2026 and writes the site's state-by-state coverage.
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