Powerball Jackpot Claimed in Arkansas
A Powerball ticket sold in Arkansas secured a $1.817 billion jackpot in the Christmas Eve drawing on Wednesday. This win ended a series of 46 consecutive drawings without a top-prize winner.
Winning Details
The winning numbers were identified as 04, 25, 31, 52, and 59, with the Powerball number being 19. Increased ticket sales resulted in the jackpot reaching a total that established it as the second-largest in U.S. history and the largest Powerball prize awarded in 2025. The corresponding lump sum cash payment option for this jackpot was valued at $834.9 million.
Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO, commented on the outcome: "Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize." Strawn also noted that ticket purchases contribute to supporting public programs and services nationwide.
Historical Context
Prior to this event, the last Powerball jackpot winner occurred on September 6, when players in Missouri and Texas shared a $1.787 billion prize.
This instance marks the second time an Arkansas-purchased ticket has won the Powerball jackpot, the first being in 2010. Records indicate that only one other Powerball jackpot has been won on Christmas Eve, which was in 2011. Additionally, the sweepstakes has been won on Christmas Day four times, most recently in 2013.
Game Information
Powerball features odds of 1 in 292.2 million for the top prize, a design intended to facilitate large jackpot accumulations through rollovers. The game also provides various smaller prizes with more favorable odds. Tickets are priced at $2 each and are available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.