On Christmas Eve, a lucky ticket holder in Arkansas claimed the $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot, making headlines across the nation. The winning ticket matched all six numbers-4, 25, 31, 52, 59-and the red Powerball 19, plus a 2× multiplier. According to the official Powerball website, the jackpot had swelled to an estimated $1.817 billion after the final ticket sales. The win is the second-largest lottery jackpot ever claimed in U.S. history and the biggest Powerball prize awarded this year.
Winning Ticket Details
The ticket’s numbers were 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, and the red Powerball 19. A 2× multiplier was applied, doubling the prize for the non-annuity payout. This combination was drawn on the 47th drawing of the current jackpot run, setting a Powerball record for the most drawings in a single jackpot cycle.
Prize Options
The winner can choose between an annuity and a lump-sum payment, both before taxes. The annuity totals $1.817 billion and consists of an initial payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5 percent each year. The lump-sum option is worth $834.9 million.
Historical Context
This marks only the second time a Powerball jackpot has been won with a ticket sold in Arkansas. The first occurrence was in 2010, according to Powerball officials. The $1.8 billion prize ranks as the second-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history, behind the $2.04 billion California win in 2022.
Powerball Game Overview
Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets cost $2 each, and the Power Play option-available for an additional $1-can multiply winnings by two, three, four, five, or ten times. Drawings take place three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
Odds and Recent Wins
The odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. The most recent jackpot win on September 6 saw tickets in Missouri and Texas share a $1.787 billion grand prize, the second-largest in Powerball history. Attorney Andrew Stoltmann has represented 12 lottery winners, many of whom lost all their winnings through bad investments, reckless spending, and greedy relatives. “Unfortunately, the people who win the lottery think at that point, the journey is over. And what they don’t realize is that the journey has really just begun,” says Stoltmann, a Chicago-based attorney.
Key Takeaways
- Arkansas ticket wins $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve.
- Winning numbers: 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, Powerball 19 with 2× multiplier.
- Prize options: $1.817 billion annuity or $834.9 million lump sum before taxes.
- This is the second Arkansas win and the second-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever.
The announcement was met with congratulations from Powerball officials. Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO, remarked, “Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize.” He added that every ticket purchased supports public programs and services across the country. The record-setting 47th drawing and the massive prize underscore the excitement that surrounds the Powerball lottery each year.
