Christmas Eve winner in Arkansas lands a $1.817 billion Powerball lottery jackpot
The winning numbers were 04, 25, 31, 52 and 59, while the Powerball number was 19. The winning ticket was sold in Cabot, lottery officials in Arkansas said Thursday. The community of about 27,000 people is 26 miles (42 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock.
Recent ticket sales have pushed the jackpot higher than previously expected, making it the second-largest Powerball prize in U.S. history and the largest Powerball prize of 2025, according to www.powerball.com. The jackpot had an option for a lump sum cash payout of $834.9 million.
“Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly a remarkable, life-changing prize,” Matt Strawn, President of the Powerball Product Group and CEO of the Iowa Lottery, was quoted as saying by the website. “We also want to thank all the players who participated in this jackpot series; every ticket purchased helps support public programs and services across the country.”
The award came after 46 consecutive drawings in which no one matched all six numbers.
The last drawing to win the jackpot took place on September 6, when players in Missouri and Texas won $1.787 billion.
Organizers said the Powerball jackpot was won for the second time with a ticket sold in Arkansas. This first happened in 2010. The last time someone won the Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve was in 2011, Powerball said. The draws have been won four times on Christmas Day, most recently in 2013, the company added.
Powerball’s 1 in 292.2 million odds are designed to win huge jackpots; The prizes keep increasing when no one wins. Lottery officials note that the odds are much better for many of the game’s smaller prizes.
“With the reward being so high, I bought one kind of impulsively. Why not?” Indianapolis glass artist Chris Winters said Wednesday.
Tickets are $2 and the game is offered in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
