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The biggest lottery win in Massachusetts this year
A lucky scratch ticket buyer in Massachusetts has landed the largest lottery prize in the state so far in 2026 — a $25 million jackpot from the “$25,000,000 Mega Money” game, a popular $50 scratch ticket. The winning ticket was purchased at Cumberland Farms in Turners Falls, a village in Montague, though the identity of the winner remains undisclosed.
Claimed through a trust — and staying anonymous
Rather than coming forward personally, the winner claimed the prize through Open Door Trust of Boston, represented by trustee Renat Lumpau. The jackpot was collected as a lump-sum payment of $16.25 million before taxes — a common choice for large prize winners looking to receive their funds in one go.
Massachusetts does not generally allow lottery winners to remain anonymous, but there is a legal workaround. Winners can establish a trust, with a designated trustee submitting the winning ticket and collecting the prize on their behalf. Only the identity of the trustee or legal representative is made public — the actual winner’s name stays out of the spotlight entirely. According to Massachusetts State Lottery executive director Mark William Bracken, the use of trusts to claim large prizes has been on the rise in recent years.
The Cumberland Farms store at 10 Montague City Rd. in Turners Falls will receive a $50,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
A busy few months for Massachusetts lottery players
The $25 million win caps an already eventful stretch for the Massachusetts Lottery. Earlier this year, a $5 million prize was claimed from a ticket sold at a Mobil gas station in Uxbridge, while a $1 million winner came forward from a ticket purchased at Sid’s Smoke Shop in Boston. Additional prizes of $250,000 and $100,000 have also been claimed in recent weeks from tickets sold at locations in Spencer and Chelmsford respectively.
Meanwhile, state legislators have been equally busy — several gambling-related bills are currently caught in extended negotiations as session deadlines loom later this month.
