Joe Kainz

Forbes: Biggest Lottery Winners Ever

Surrounded by media and family members, Joe Kainz of Tower Lake, IL displays his winning lottery ticket and an oversized commemorative check May 19, 2000 after a press conference in Chicago, IL. The Kainz family, including Joe's wife Sue, their three sons and one daughter-in-law, stepped forward on friday to claim their half of the $363 million Big Game jackpot, the biggest lottery prize in U.S. history at the time.

(Tim Boyle/ Newsmakers)

More from Forbes:
The World’s Largest Private Companies
The Private Companies Behind America’s Billionaires
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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

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Ed Nabors MegaMillions lottery co-winner Ed Nabors holds up a pillow with the words "gone fishing" embroidered on it, as his sister, Becky Dunlap, and brother- in- law David Dunlap hold his before-tax check during a news conference at the Georgia Lottery office, Wednesday, March 7, 2007, in Atlanta. The truck driver from north Georgia claimed half of the record $390 million (297 million Euros) Mega Millions jackpot, the richest lottery prize in U.S. history at the time. "I'm going to do a lot of fishing," Nabors said when asked what he planned to do with the money.

(AP Photo/John Amis)

More from Forbes:
The World’s Largest Private Companies
The Private Companies Behind America’s Billionaires
America’s Best Small Companies

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Erika Greene Big Game winner Erika Greene, 20, of Dacula, Ga., holds a ceremonial check as she sits on stage during a press conference at Atlanta offices of the Georgia Lottery Wednesday, April 17, 2002. Because Greene opted for the single payout, her winnings would be about $58 million, but "could well be more than that" after the final ticket sales were tallied, Georgia Lottery President Rebecca Paul said. Two other winning tickets were sold in Illinois and New Jersey but there were no immediate claimants.

(AP Photo)

More from Forbes:
The World’s Largest Private Companies
The Private Companies Behind America’s Billionaires
America’s Best Small Companies

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Holly Lahti In this undated photo provided by the Idaho Sheriff's Office, Holly Lahti is shown. Lahti burst into the spotlight in a feel-good story about a single mother who won a $190 million Mega Millions jackpot. Then came the mugshot: a thin young woman with disheveled brown hair, sporting a black eye and cuts and bruises on her face and neck. It turned out she was separated from a man who court records indicated had abused her, and now has a possible claim to some of the money through a quirk in Idaho law. Friends of Lahti are upset at all the attention paid to the decade-old mugshot, and say it does not reflect the devoted and hardworking young mother who has moved on from a troubled marriage.

(AP Photo/ Idaho Sheriff's Office)

More from Forbes:
The World’s Largest Private Companies
The Private Companies Behind America’s Billionaires
America’s Best Small Companies

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
James "Jimmy" Gr... Jimmy Groves was flooded with calls from friends and acquaintances seeking money after he won the $336 million lottery jackpot.

(NY Post/ Splash News/ Newscom)

More from Forbes:
The World’s Largest Private Companies
The Private Companies Behind America’s Billionaires
America’s Best Small Companies

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Jim McCullar, Ca... Jim and Carolyn McCullar, of Ephrata, Wash., the winners of a $190 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot, talk to reporters, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, in Olympia, Wash.

(AP Photo/ Ted S. Warren)

More from Forbes:
The World’s Largest Private Companies
The Private Companies Behind America’s Billionaires
America’s Best Small Companies

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Joe Kainz Surrounded by media and family members, Joe Kainz of Tower Lake, IL displays his winning lottery ticket and an oversized commemorative check May 19, 2000 after a press conference in Chicago, IL. The Kainz family, including Joe's wife Sue, their three sons and one daughter-in-law, stepped forward on friday to claim their half of the $363 million Big Game jackpot, the biggest lottery prize in U.S. history at the time.

(Tim Boyle/ Newsmakers)

More from Forbes:
The World’s Largest Private Companies
The Private Companies Behind America’s Billionaires
America’s Best Small Companies

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Larry Ross Larry Ross, 47, smiles as he talks to reporters along with his wife Nancy, 46, and his daughter Shannon, 12, of Shelby Township, Michigan after receiving a check May 12, 2000 in Lansing, Michigan for $181.5 million, their share of the May 9, 2000 $363 million Big Game lottery jackpot. The Ross' own a pool installation and maintenance business.

(Jeff Kowalsky/ AFP/ Getty Images)

More from Forbes:
The World’s Largest Private Companies
The Private Companies Behind America’s Billionaires
America’s Best Small Companies

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Louise White Louise White, right, 81 from Newport, R.I., is presented a check for $336 million by Gerald Aubin, left, director of the state's lottery, and Gov. Lincoln Chafee, center, at Rhode Island Lottery headquarters in Cranston, R.I., Tuesday, March 6, 2012. White won the $336.4 million Powerball jackpot, sleeping with the winning ticket in her Bible until coming forward to claim the sixth-largest U.S. prize (at the time), a family representative said.

(AP Photo/ Stew Milne)

More from Forbes:
The World’s Largest Private Companies
The Private Companies Behind America’s Billionaires
America’s Best Small Companies

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Mark and Cindy H... Mark, left, and Cindy, center, Hill are presented a check by a Missouri Lottery official during the announcement of Powerball winners in Dearborn, Mo., Friday, Nov. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)