In a stunning turn of fortune, a single Powerball ticket holder in Arkansas has become the winner of a monumental $1.82 billion jackpot from the Christmas Eve drawing. This prize stands as the second-largest in the entire history of the Powerball lottery, delivering an early Christmas gift of unimaginable proportions.
A Historic Christmas Eve Win
The life-changing numbers drawn on Wednesday night, December 24th, were 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, with the Powerball number 19. While the jackpot was initially advertised at $1.7 billion, final ticket sales pushed the grand prize to a staggering $1.82 billion. The fortunate winner now faces a monumental choice: receive the full amount spread over 29 annual payments or opt for a one-time, lump-sum cash payment of $834.9 million.
This event marks a rare occasion, as it is only the second time a Powerball grand prize has been claimed on Christmas Eve. The first happened back in 2011 when a player in Maryland secured a $128.8 million win. Matt Strawn, Chair of the Powerball Product Group and CEO of the Iowa Lottery, expressed his congratulations, stating, "This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize." He also thanked all players, noting that ticket purchases help fund public programs nationwide.
A Rare Jackpot for Arkansas
The win is particularly significant for the state of Arkansas. According to the Arkansas Lottery, this is only the second time a Powerball jackpot winner has emerged from the state. The first was a $25 million prize claimed on January 2, 2010. Under Arkansas state law, lottery winners of $500,000 or more are permitted to remain anonymous for three years, and the latest billionaire winner has chosen to exercise this right to privacy.
The massive jackpot streak began after the last win on September 6th, when two tickets from Missouri and Texas split a $1.78 billion prize. Both of those winners selected the cash option, which was $410.3 million each.
Other Winners and Astronomical Odds
While one ticket hit the grand prize, Wednesday's drawing also created several new millionaires. Eight tickets matched all five white balls, winning $1 million each. Two of these were sold in New York—one at a convenience store in Sidney, Delaware County, and another at Montauk Highway Gas Corp in Lindenhurst.
Powerball officials remind players that the odds of matching all six numbers to win the jackpot remain astronomically high at 1 in 292,201,338. The only jackpot larger than this Christmas Eve windfall was the $2.04 billion prize won by Edwin Castro in California in November 2022.
With this historic claim, the Powerball jackpot has now reset to an estimated $20 million for the next drawing on Saturday, offering a fresh start and new dreams for players across the country.
