Christmas turned merry for one very lucky Powerball player in Arkansas. The ticket holder won a jaw-dropping $1.8 billion jackpot, making it one of the biggest lottery wins the United States has ever seen. The timing could not have been better, with the win landing just days before the festival.
Powerball winner: Arkansas nabs $1.8 billion jackpot
The jackpot shot dramatically after last-minute ticket sales ahead of Wednesday’s draw. By the time the numbers were announced, the prize stood at $1.817 billion, with a cash option of $834.9 million. According to Powerball, this now ranks as the second-largest lottery jackpot in US history.
The winning numbers drawn were 4, 25, 31, 52, and 59, along with the red Powerball 19. The Power Play multiplier for the night was 2. This jackpot had been building for a long time. It took 47 drawings to finally find a winner, which is a record for the most drawings in a single jackpot cycle. Powerball also confirmed this was the largest prize of the year. The odds of hitting the Powerball jackpot stand at one in 292.2 million.
Reacting to the historic win, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO Matt Strawn called it a moment to remember. He said the prize was truly extraordinary and life-changing for the new winner.
More winners across the country
While Arkansas had the big winner, others also walked away with festive surprises. Eight tickets won $1 million each, according to CNN. Those million-dollar tickets were sold in California, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Beyond that, 114 tickets nationwide won $50,000, and 31 tickets claimed $100,000, according to Powerball officials.
What happens next for Powerball
With the jackpot now claimed, the Powerball prize resets to $20 million for the next drawing, which will take place on Saturday. Powerball has a long history of massive jackpots. The biggest one ever came in 2022, when a ticket won a record $2.04 billion.
Powerball said several jackpots over the years have been won on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. However, none of those earlier holiday wins crossed the $1 billion mark, until this one.
How winners can take their money
Lottery winners usually have two ways to collect their prize. One option is the annuity plan, which includes one upfront payment followed by 29 yearly payments that grow by 5 percent each year. The second option is a one-time lump sum payout, which most winners prefer. In this case, that lump sum stands at $834.9 million before taxes.
Powerball drawings are held three times a week. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. The numbers are drawn at 10:59 pm Eastern Time.