In Wednesday's Christmas Eve drawing, a Powerball ticket bought outside of Little Rock, Arkansas, won a $1.817 billion jackpot, breaking the lottery game's three-month run without a top-prize winner.
The Powerball number was 19, and the winning numbers were 04, 25, 31, 52, and 59. Lottery authorities in Arkansas announced on Thursday that the winning ticket was sold in Cabot. The approximately 27,000-person hamlet is located 26 miles (42 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock.
According to www.powerball.com, final ticket sales increased the jackpot beyond projections, making it the highest Powerball reward of 2025 and the second-largest in U.S. history. There was a $834.9 million lump sum cash payout option for the jackpot.
"Congratulations to the most recent Powerball jackpot winner! The website reported Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO Matt Strawn as saying, "This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize."
"We also want to thank all of the players who participated in this jackpot streak; every ticket bought contributes to the nation's public services and programs."
After 46 consecutive drawings in which no one matched all six numbers, the reward was awarded. Players in Missouri and Texas won $1.787 billion in the most recent drawing with a jackpot winner on September 6.
According to the organizers, this is the second time a ticket sold in Arkansas has won the Powerball jackpot. The first instance occurred in 2010.
According to Powerball, the last time someone won a jackpot on Christmas Eve was in 2011. The contest has previously been won on Christmas Day four times, most recently in 2013, according to the business.
Powerball's odds of 1 in 292.2 million are intended to produce large jackpots; when no one wins, the rewards increase as they roll over. The odds are far better for the game's numerous lesser rewards, according to lottery organizers.
"I just made an impulsive purchase because the prize was so high." Why not? Chris Winters, a glass artist from Indianapolis, stated on Wednesday. The game is available in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are $2.
