Arkansas Ticket Wins $1.817 Billion Powerball Jackpot on Christmas Eve
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — In a stunning holiday surprise, a single Powerball ticket sold in Arkansas captured the $1.817 billion jackpot on Christmas Eve, marking the second largest lottery prize ever awarded in the United States. The enormous prize, announced on December 25, 2025, eclipses nearly all previous jackpots except for the $2.04 billion Powerball prize won in California in 2022.
The winning numbers drawn on December 24 were 4, 25, 31, 52, and 59 for the white balls, with the red Powerball number 19 and a Power Play multiplier of 2. This jackpot prize accumulated over 47 drawings, setting a record for the longest jackpot cycle in Powerball history, according to the official Powerball website. The previous jackpot was won on September 6 by two tickets splitting $1.787 billion, which at the time was the second largest prize in Powerball history.
Matt Strawn, Powerball product chair and CEO of the Iowa Lottery, congratulated the winner in a statement, calling it an “extraordinary, life-changing prize.” The winner now faces a choice between receiving the full $1.817 billion jackpot paid out as an annuity over 30 years, with payments increasing by 5% annually, or opting for a one-time lump sum payment of approximately $843.9 million before taxes.
This marks only the second time an Arkansas ticket has won the Powerball jackpot, the first being in 2010, highlighting the rarity of such a win in the state. The Arkansas scholarship lottery, which oversees ticket sales in the state, has seen a surge in interest following the announcement.
In addition to the grand prize winner, eight tickets matched all five white balls and won $1 million each. These tickets were sold across California, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and two in New York. Furthermore, 31 tickets won $100,000 prizes, and 114 tickets won $50,000 prizes, underscoring the widespread excitement and participation in the drawing.
The Powerball lottery is jointly operated by 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with proceeds often funding education and public services. For more information on lottery regulations and prize claims, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery provides official guidance.
The next Powerball drawing is scheduled for Saturday night, with an estimated jackpot of $20 million. Players nationwide will have the chance to try their luck again, though few will match the historic fortune claimed this Christmas Eve.
For official rules and information on Powerball, visit the Powerball official rules page. To understand the tax implications of lottery winnings, the Internal Revenue Service provides detailed guidance on federal and state tax responsibilities for lottery prize recipients.
As the holiday season brings joy to many, this extraordinary lottery win adds a remarkable chapter to the story of American lotteries, reminding hopeful players that fortunes can change in an instant.
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