One lucky individual in Arkansas is waking up to an unimaginably wealthy Christmas after holding the sole winning ticket for a historic $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot. The winning numbers were drawn on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, 2025, concluding a lengthy jackpot streak that had captivated players across the United States.
A Historic Win to End the Drought
The winning combination for the life-changing prize was 04, 25, 31, 52, and 59, with a Powerball number of 19. This Christmas Eve victory brings an end to a significant dry spell, halting a run of 46 consecutive drawings over three months without a grand prize winner. The last time a jackpot was claimed was on September 6, 2025, when winners in Missouri and Texas shared a $1.787 million prize.
According to Powerball officials, this marks only the second time a jackpot has been won by a ticket sold in Arkansas. The first instance occurred back in 2010. Furthermore, winning on December 24th is a rare event itself; the last Christmas Eve jackpot win was in 2011.
Second-Largest Jackpot in U.S. History
Frenzied ticket sales in the final days before the drawing pushed the prize pool higher than initial estimates, cementing its place in the record books. The $1.817 billion jackpot is now the second-largest in United States lottery history and stands as the biggest Powerball prize awarded in 2025.
The fortunate ticket holder now faces the monumental decision of how to claim their windfall. They have the option to receive the prize as an annuity paid over 29 years or to take a one-time lump-sum cash payment of $834.9 million. The winner, whose identity remains unknown, has 180 days from the draw date to come forward.
Odds, Impact, and Congratulations
Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group chair and CEO of the Iowa Lottery, extended his congratulations on the lottery's official website. "Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize," said Strawn. He also thanked the millions of players who participated, noting that every ticket purchase helps support public programs and services nationwide.
The odds of matching all six numbers to win the Powerball jackpot are a staggering 1 in 292.2 million, a design intentionally created to allow prizes to roll over and grow into the billions. Lottery officials consistently remind players that the odds of winning smaller, yet still significant, prizes are much more favourable.
Powerball tickets are sold for $2 each and are available in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. While this jackpot has been won, the game continues, with a new jackpot starting at an estimated $20 million for the next drawing.
