On Dec. 24, 2025, a Powerball ticket sold in Arkansas matched the drawing numbers to win a $1.817 billion jackpot, ending a 46-draw run without a top prize. The drawing produced winning numbers 04, 25, 31, 52 and 59, with Powerball 19; the advertised lump-sum cash option was $834.9 million. Final ticket sales pushed the advertised total higher than earlier projections, making this the second-largest U.S. lottery prize on record and the largest Powerball prize in 2025. Officials said the ticket was sold in Arkansas, but the identity of the winner had not been publicly confirmed at the time of reporting.
Key Takeaways
- A single ticket sold in Arkansas won the $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot on Dec. 24, 2025; the cash option was listed as $834.9 million.
- Winning numbers were 04, 25, 31, 52, 59 and Powerball 19; the game’s long odds are 1 in 292.2 million for the top prize.
- The jackpot followed 46 consecutive drawings with no top-prize winner, and final sales raised the advertised total above earlier estimates.
- This is the second Powerball jackpot ever won with a ticket sold in Arkansas; the state’s first Powerball top prize came in 2010.
- The previous drawing with a jackpot winner was Sept. 6, 2025, when tickets in Missouri and Texas shared a $1.787 billion prize.
- Powerball is offered in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; individual tickets cost $2.
Background
Powerball’s structure encourages large jackpots by rolling over the top prize when no winner matches all six numbers. The game’s 1-in-292.2-million odds for the jackpot contrast with much higher probabilities for the many smaller prizes, a design intended to generate headline-grabbing totals. Over 46 drawings this fall and winter, no ticket matched all six numbers, allowing the advertised amount to swell as ticket sales accumulated toward the Christmas Eve draw. Large jackpots also concentrate public attention and often boost short-term ticket purchases, providing more revenue for state programs supported by lottery proceeds.
Historically, Powerball has produced some of the largest single-ticket prizes in U.S. history; the last multi-state jackpot winners in 2025 on Sept. 6 involved ticket holders in Missouri and Texas who shared a $1.787 billion prize. Arkansas had previously been the point of sale for a Powerball jackpot winner in 2010, making this the state’s second role in a top-prize outcome. Draw timing and holiday dates occasionally coincide with big prizes: Powerball has been won on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in prior years, though those occurrences are rare. State lotteries and the Powerball consortium operate under rules that vary by jurisdiction for claiming and taxing prizes, so timing of any public announcement about the winner can differ significantly.
Main Event
On Dec. 24, the Powerball drawing produced the numbers that matched a single ticket sold in Arkansas, yielding the $1.817 billion advertised jackpot. Officials reported the winning number sequence—04, 25, 31, 52, 59 and Powerball 19—shortly after the draw; the rolling jackpot had grown as no top-prize winner emerged across 46 consecutive drawings. The prize was reported by Powerball’s official channels and amplified by national news outlets, noting that final ticket sales lifted the advertised amount above earlier public estimates. Powerball organizers confirmed the payout figures and the listed lump-sum option of $834.9 million, which is smaller than the advertised annuity value but offered as an immediate cash alternative.
Lottery administrators emphasized that while the advertised figure represents the annuitized total, most winners must decide between the annuity schedule and a one-time cash payment that is lower in nominal dollars. State rules dictate the process for validating and claiming a winning ticket, and the Arkansas Lottery will oversee verification for a ticket sold within its borders. At the time of reporting, authorities had not released a confirmed winner identity or the retail location that sold the ticket. Officials typically recommend that potential claimants sign the ticket and consult legal and financial advisers before making public statements or financial decisions.
The result ends a notable period without a jackpot winner and ranks as the second-largest U.S. lottery prize by advertised annuity. Powerball officials said the big prize also drives increased revenues that fund state programs, though the distribution and net benefits vary by jurisdiction after administrative costs, retailer commissions and taxes. The drawing drew heightened attention because of the holiday timing and the rare scale of the prize, prompting both local interest in Arkansas and widespread national coverage.
Analysis & Implications
Large, infrequent jackpots like this one reshape short-term lottery behavior: research and past patterns show ticket sales spike as advertised totals climb, especially near holidays. That surge both raises the advertised amount further and concentrates the public conversation on the few winners who manage to match all numbers. For state budgets that rely on lottery proceeds, those spikes can temporarily increase revenue flows; however, the funds support a range of designated programs and the net fiscal effect depends on how states allocate the proceeds and cover administrative costs.
From the winner’s perspective, choosing between the annuity and lump-sum options triggers complex tax and financial planning decisions. The $834.9 million cash figure is before federal and state taxes; after withholding and tax liability, the net amount will be substantially lower. Financial advisers typically recommend assembling a team—attorney, tax advisor, wealth manager—to manage immediate choices such as anonymity (where permitted), payment timing, and strategies to preserve long-term wealth. Jurisdictional rules vary: some states allow winners to remain anonymous or claim through trusts, while others require disclosure of certain details.
At a market level, unusually large jackpots can also invite increased scrutiny over lottery marketing and social impacts. Economists note that regressive spending patterns on lottery tickets can disproportionately affect lower-income households. Public policy debates often balance the revenue benefits for public programs against concerns about gambling addiction and regressivity. Observers will likely monitor how Arkansas and other states report revenue flows from the sales surge tied to this drawing and whether any legislative attention follows.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Advertised jackpot (annuity) | $1.817 billion |
| Cash option | $834.9 million |
| Winning numbers | 04, 25, 31, 52, 59 + Powerball 19 |
| Consecutive drawings without winner | 46 |
| Odds of jackpot | 1 in 292.2 million |
| Tickets cost | $2 per play |
The table above summarizes the central figures for the Dec. 24 draw, placing the advertised annuity alongside the cash option and the draw’s basic parameters. Compared with the Sept. 6, 2025 shared $1.787 billion prize, this Arkansas-winning ticket produced an advertised amount slightly larger due to final sales. While annuity figures headline the totals reported to the public, most winners select the cash option; taxes and withholdings then determine the final spendable amount. Analysts often emphasize looking beyond headline numbers to the cash value and likely tax outcomes when assessing the real financial impact on a winner.
Reactions & Quotes
Powerball leadership framed the result as extraordinary for both the winner and the broader participation that produced the prize pool. The statement highlighted the role of ticket purchases in supporting public programs across participating states.
“Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner — this is an extraordinary, life-changing prize,”
Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair & Iowa Lottery CEO
Among individual players, reactions ranged from casual impulse buys to more deliberate participation as the jackpot rose. Several players quoted by news outlets described buying tickets on a whim as the total climbed in the days before Christmas.
“With the prize so high, I just bought one kind of impulsively. Why not?”
Chris Winters, Indianapolis glass artist (player)
Lottery officials also reiterated standard guidance for winners and retailers about validation and claim procedures, noting that state lottery offices will confirm the ticket and oversee the claim process for prizes of this magnitude.
“Lottery offices will verify the ticket before any payout; claimants should sign tickets and seek professional advice before making decisions,”
Powerball officials (statement)
Unconfirmed
- The identity of the Arkansas ticket holder has not been publicly confirmed by state officials at the time of reporting.
- It is not yet confirmed whether the winner will opt for the lump-sum cash payment or the annuity schedule.
- The specific retail location or clerk who sold the winning ticket in Arkansas has not been officially disclosed.
Bottom Line
The Dec. 24 Powerball result produced a headline-grabbing $1.817 billion advertised jackpot, with a cash option of $834.9 million, and ended a 46-draw streak without a top-prize winner. While the numeric totals dominate coverage, the practical outcomes for the winner—tax treatment, anonymity options and long-term financial planning—will shape the real impact of the prize. State lottery offices and the Powerball consortium will manage the verification and payout process according to jurisdictional rules, and observers will watch how revenue from the sales surge is allocated to public programs.
For the public, the draw reinforces familiar lessons: jackpots can grow quickly when rollovers accumulate, headline amounts differ substantially from cash payouts after taxes, and winners face complex decisions that benefit from professional guidance. The event is notable both for its size and for its holiday timing; it will likely prompt renewed attention to lottery mechanics, state revenue reporting, and the social conversation around large, concentrated gambling payouts.
Sources
- Powerball official site — official operator information and jackpot announcement
- NPR — news report summarizing the draw and reactions (media)
- Associated Press — image and related coverage (news)