Someone who bought a Powerball ticket at a Murphy USA station in Cabot, Arkansas, matched all five numbers plus the Powerball on Wednesday, Christmas Eve, to claim a jackpot worth more than $1.8 billion. The ticket produced the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history, ending a three-month stretch without a top-prize winner. The win was announced by Powerball following the drawing on Dec. 24; ticket sales and community reaction have since focused attention on the small Cabot suburb northeast of Little Rock. State rules, taxes and a choice between a lump-sum payout or an annuity will shape what the winner receives and when their identity becomes public.
Key takeaways
- The Powerball drawing on Dec. 24 produced a single jackpot winner who matched five numbers and the Powerball for an advertised prize of more than $1.8 billion.
- The winning ticket was sold at a Murphy USA gas station in Cabot, Arkansas, a city of about 27,000 people northeast of Little Rock.
- The advertised jackpot offered a lump-sum option of $834.9 million before taxes; Arkansas state income tax at the top rate of 3.9% would take more than $32 million if the lump sum is chosen.
- Arkansas winners have 180 days from the drawing to claim prizes; winners of over $500,000 may request up to three years of confidentiality under state law, with shorter limits for certain public officials or relatives.
- Powerball’s official odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million; tickets cost $2 and the game is offered in 45 states plus D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- The winning numbers for this drawing were 04, 25, 31, 52 and 59, with Powerball number 19.
Background
Powerball was designed to produce very large jackpots by rolling over prize pools when no top-prize ticket is sold; the odds were adjusted in 2015 to allow for larger cumulative prizes. The game operates across most U.S. jurisdictions, with each participating state administering ticket sales, prize payments and local tax treatment. Arkansas participates in Powerball and collects state income tax on lottery winnings; the top state rate is 3.9%, which will reduce the net proceeds if the winner takes the cash option.
Murphy USA operates fuel and convenience stores often situated near major highways; the Cabot location sits close to an interstate that brings local and transient customers. That mix means a winning ticket could have been bought by a resident or someone passing through. Local officials and residents quickly turned attention to the store after the winning location was announced, reflecting the economic and social ripple effects of large jackpots in small communities.
Main event
The drawing on Dec. 24 produced a single jackpot-winning ticket, ending a three-month period in which Powerball’s top prize had rolled over. Company officials confirmed the match of five white-ball numbers and the red Powerball, producing an advertised prize in excess of $1.8 billion. The win ranks as the second-largest lottery payout recorded in U.S. history, according to Powerball’s announcements.
The physical ticket was sold at the Murphy USA in Cabot, Arkansas. Murphy USA’s spokesperson Alejandra Barron told reporters via email that the retailer experienced heavier-than-normal traffic on Christmas Eve as shoppers purchased Powerball tickets, and noted that Murphy stores have sold other major-winning tickets in recent years. A telephone message left at the Cabot store went unanswered Friday, and store-level staff did not provide on-the-record comments to media at the time of reporting.
Cabot Mayor Ken Kincade said the community was buzzing with speculation about the winner’s identity and that social media was filled with discussion. He also noted the possibility that the purchaser could be from outside the city because the station is near a major interstate. Local officials and residents said they hope the winner is from Cabot but cautioned that confirmation awaits the claimant’s decision to come forward.
Analysis & implications
Tax and privacy rules will be decisive for what the winner actually receives and whether they become publicly known. Arkansas allows winners of prizes over $500,000 to request confidentiality for up to three years; after that period the records become subject to public disclosure, although elected officials and their close relatives face a six-month confidentiality limit. These timelines mean the new jackpot winner could remain anonymous for months if they follow state procedures.
The lump-sum option—$834.9 million before taxes in this case—will be reduced by federal taxes and Arkansas state income tax. At Arkansas’ top rate of 3.9%, the state share alone on the lump sum would exceed $32 million; federal tax withholding and any additional liabilities (overdue taxes, liens, delinquent child support) can further reduce net proceeds under Arkansas law. These rules underscore that advertised jackpots are not the same as after-tax, in-hand amounts.
Economically, a payout of this size can affect local and state finances if the winner spends or invests locally; small communities sometimes see short-term surges in retail activity. Conversely, a large anonymous winner who moves or invests elsewhere will distribute economic benefits more diffusely. Policy debates about the social impact of state lotteries — from regressive spending to the allocation of lottery proceeds — typically resurface after major jackpots.
Comparison & data
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Advertised jackpot | $1,800,000,000+ |
| Lump-sum option (before taxes) | $834,900,000 |
| Odds of jackpot | 1 in 292.2 million |
| Ticket cost | $2 |
| Arkansas top income tax | 3.9% |
| Claim window in Arkansas | 180 days |
The table summarizes the headline figures for this drawing and the Arkansas legal framework that will apply to any claimant. While advertised jackpots are quoted as annuity totals, most winners choose the lump sum; the choice depends on personal financial planning, tax considerations and estate intentions.
Reactions & quotes
“It’s all over Facebook, Twitter. Everyone’s talking about it and wants to know who it is.”
Ken Kincade, Mayor of Cabot
Mayor Kincade described a community abuzz with speculation, reflecting both local excitement and curiosity. He emphasized that the station’s interstate-adjacent location means the buyer could be a visitor as well as a resident, complicating efforts to identify the winner quickly.
“Our stores were particularly busy on Christmas Eve with shoppers purchasing Powerball tickets.”
Alejandra Barron, Murphy USA spokesperson
Murphy USA noted increased foot traffic on the holiday and cited a prior occasion when a major multi-state prize was sold at one of its locations. Company-level comments stressed operational normalcy while declining to identify individual customers.
“Lottery winners in Arkansas have 180 days to claim their prize; winners of more than $500,000 may request confidentiality for up to three years.”
Karen Reynolds, Arkansas Scholarship Lottery spokesperson
The Lottery’s statement outlines the statutory claim window and the confidentiality options available under state law, which will govern when and whether the winner’s identity becomes public.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the winning ticket buyer is a Cabot resident or a traveler remains unconfirmed pending a claimant coming forward.
- The winner’s choice between the lump-sum payment and annuity has not been announced and is therefore unknown.
- Any potential liens, overdue taxes or other offsets against the prize have not been disclosed publicly and are unconfirmed.
Bottom line
The Dec. 24 drawing produced a single Powerball ticket sold at a Murphy USA in Cabot, Arkansas, delivering an advertised jackpot of more than $1.8 billion and creating the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history. While the headline figure is striking, the cash value, tax obligations and legal processes will determine what the winner actually receives and how long their identity may remain private under Arkansas law.
Local reaction in Cabot underscores both community interest and the economic curiosity that follows major lottery wins, but confirmation of a purchaser’s identity could take weeks or months depending on the claimant’s choices. Observers should distinguish between the announced jackpot and the post-tax, post-liens net proceeds; anyone hoping to understand the final outcome will need to watch for an official claim and any public statements from the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery or the claimant’s representatives.
Sources
- Associated Press (news report)
- Powerball (official game operator)
- Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (state lottery — official information)