A lucky lottery player in Arkansas just made history, taking home a $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot—the second-largest prize ever in the United States! And yes, this life-changing win came on Christmas Eve, making the holiday extra magical.
Powerball officials revealed the winning numbers: white balls 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, and the red Powerball 19. The odds of hitting the jackpot? A staggering 1 in 292.2 million—with tickets costing just $2.
The winner’s identity remains a mystery, but the excitement is real. Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO, called it “an extraordinary, life-changing jackpot.”
Here’s how the prize breaks down:
-
Annuity option: 30 yearly payments over 29 years, totaling $1.817 billion, with each payment increasing by 5% annually.
-
Lump-sum cash option: $834.9 million upfront.
Most winners choose the lump-sum payment, though either choice is subject to federal—and sometimes state—taxes.
For context, the largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever was $2.04 billion in 2022, also from Powerball. Launched in 1992, Powerball is now played across nearly every state in the country, capturing dreams of millions of Americans with every draw.
Login