You’ve probably seen the headlines. Some lucky soul at a Holiday station in Cottage Grove or a Casey’s in Stacy hits the numbers. Suddenly, they’re staring at more zeros than they ever thought possible. Winning the lottery is the ultimate "what if" game we all play while sitting in traffic on I-35W. But for the small handful of Minnesota Powerball winners, that daydream turned into a very weird, very public reality.
It’s not just about the money. It’s about the chaos that follows.
Honestly, Minnesota is a bit of a "sleeper" state for Powerball. We don't have the massive volume of winners like California or Florida, but when we hit, we hit big. Since the game launched back in the early 90s, the Gopher State has produced over 20 jackpot winners. However, the rules of the game changed recently, and if you won tomorrow, your life would look a lot different than the winners from a decade ago.
The Burnsville Record: $228.9 Million
Back in 2011, Thomas and Kathleen Morris became the faces of the biggest win in state history. It’s a classic story. Thomas was a sales engineer who didn't even have the right change in his pocket. He wanted to buy three tickets but only had a five-dollar bill, so he figured, why not? He bought five.
The fourth set of numbers on that ticket was the winner.
They were 61 at the time. Kathleen famously told reporters that the only way they were ever going to retire was by winning the lottery. Talk about manifesting. They took the lump sum, which walked away at about $83.7 million after the taxman took his cut. That’s the thing people forget—the "jackpot" is a fairy tale number. The "cash option" is the reality.
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The Anonymity Shift in 2021
If you win a Minnesota Powerball winners jackpot today, you don't have to do the giant check photo op anymore. Thank goodness. Before September 1, 2021, your name was public record. If you won $100 million, the whole world knew your address.
Now? Any prize over $10,000 is automatically private.
You have to opt-in to the publicity. Most people don't. And who can blame them? Look at Paul White from Ham Lake. He won a share of a $448 million jackpot in 2013. He was a project engineer who vowed never to work for a paycheck again. He was vibrant and vocal, but that kind of fame brings every long-lost cousin and "investment expert" out of the woodwork.
The new law basically gives you a "witness protection" light version of winning. You can take the money and vanish into a cabin Up North without the local news van idling in your driveway.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Payout
People see $500 million and think they’re billionaires. Nope. Not even close.
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In Minnesota, the math is brutal but simple. First, you have the federal withholding, which is usually 24% right off the top. Then, the state of Minnesota takes its 7.25% cut. But wait—there's more. Since the top federal tax bracket is actually 37%, you’re going to owe a massive chunk more when April 15 rolls around.
- Federal Withholding: 24%
- MN State Tax: 7.25%
- Total Initial Hit: 31.25%
Basically, if you win $100 million and take the cash option (which might be $50 million), you’re actually looking at more like $34 million in the bank. Still enough to buy a fleet of Prince-themed purple Jet Skis, but it’s a far cry from the billboard number.
The Heartwarming Side: The Waseca Win
Not every winner just buys a bigger house. Paul and Sue Rosenau from Waseca won $180.1 million in 2008. Their story is probably the most moving in lottery history. They hit the jackpot on the exact five-year anniversary of their granddaughter’s death from Krabbe disease.
Instead of going on a global shopping spree, they started The Legacy of Angels Foundation. They poured millions into research for rare diseases. That’s the "Minnesota Nice" version of winning. They turned a random stroke of luck into a lifeline for families they’d never even meet.
The Logistics: If You Actually Win
So, you found the ticket in your glovebox. What now?
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- Sign the back immediately. In the eyes of the law, that ticket is a "bearer instrument." Whoever holds it, owns it.
- Shut up. Seriously. Don't post it on TikTok. Don't call your boss yet.
- Hire the "Trinity": You need a tax attorney, a certified financial planner, and an accountant. You are now a business.
- The Roseville Trek: You have to claim jackpot prizes in person at the Minnesota Lottery headquarters in Roseville.
You have one year from the drawing date to claim the prize. If you don't? The money goes back into the state's general fund. Just last year, a $1 million ticket sold in Delano went unclaimed. It’s physically painful to think about someone having a million-dollar piece of paper in their trash can.
The "Happy Huskers" and the Power of the Pool
Back in 2003, a group of 16 women from Holdingford High School—mostly cooks and a custodian—won $95.4 million. They called themselves the "Happy Huskers." They’d been pooling quarters for 13 years.
Winning as a group is a legal nightmare if you don't have a written agreement. Luckily, they did. They each walked away with a life-changing amount of money, but because they shared it, nobody had the "curse" of being the sole target for scammers.
Moving Forward With Your Ticket
If you’re holding a ticket for the next draw, remember that the odds are roughly 1 in 292.2 million. You’re more likely to be struck by lightning while being bitten by a shark. But hey, someone has to win.
If it’s you, take advantage of the 2021 anonymity law. Keep your name off the press releases. Minnesota is one of the few states that actually protects your privacy now, so use it. Check your numbers against the official Minnesota Lottery site, not a third-party app, and keep that ticket in a literal safe until you've got a lawyer on the phone.
The path from "regular person" to "jackpot winner" is a fast-track to a completely different life. Most of the winners who stayed happy were the ones who kept their old friends and their old values—just with a much better view of the lake.
Go check your pockets. You never know.
Actionable Steps for Potential Winners
- Check the expiration: Minnesota Powerball tickets expire 365 days after the drawing. Check your old tickets now.
- Secure the physical ticket: If you have a winner, place it in a bank safety deposit box or a fireproof home safe immediately.
- Verify the law: Understand that under Minn. Stat. § 349A.08, your identity is private for wins over $10k—do not feel pressured by media outlets to go public.
- Debt Check: Be aware that Minnesota uses the Revenue Recapture Act. If you owe back taxes, child support, or state debts, they will be deducted from your win before you see a dime.