Christmas Eve brought an unforgettable surprise for one lottery player in the United States. A single Powerball ticket sold in Arkansas won the massive $1.817 billion jackpot in the drawing held on Wednesday, December 24, making it one of the largest lottery prizes ever recorded.
According to Powerball officials, the winning numbers for the Christmas Eve drawing were 4, 25, 31, 52, and 59, with the red Powerball number 19. The Power Play multiplier was 2X. Only one ticket matched all six numbers, securing the entire jackpot.
This win marks the second-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history and the largest Powerball prize of 2025. The size of the prize was higher than earlier estimates due to strong ticket sales in the final hours before the drawing.
Cash Option Worth $834.9 Million
While the advertised jackpot was $1.817 billion, the winner now faces an important choice. The lottery allows winners to take the full prize as annual payments spread over several decades or accept a one-time cash payout.
For this drawing, the lump-sum cash option was valued at $834.9 million, before taxes. Many past winners have chosen the cash option, even though it represents a significantly lower amount, because it provides immediate access to the funds.
Once federal and state taxes are applied, the final take-home amount will be much lower, but it will still rank among the biggest lottery payouts ever received by a single person.
Jackpot Ends Historic Run Without a Winner
Wednesday night’s drawing was especially notable because it ended a long jackpot run. The Powerball jackpot had rolled over for 46 consecutive drawings, with no ticket matching all six numbers during that period.
This made the December 24 drawing the 47th drawing in the jackpot cycle, setting a new game record for the most drawings without a top-prize winner, according to Powerball.com.
The previous Powerball jackpot win happened on September 6, when two tickets sold in Missouri and Texas split a $1.787 billion prize. Since then, the jackpot continued to grow for more than three months, fueled by repeated rollovers.
Other Big Winners Across the Country
While only one ticket won the main jackpot, several other players walked away with significant prizes.
Eight tickets matched the first five white-ball numbers, earning $1 million each. These winning tickets were sold in:
- California
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- Two tickets in New York
There were no winners in the Match 5 plus Power Play category, which would have paid out $2 million.
These additional winners highlight that even when the jackpot dominates headlines, many players still win life-changing sums through smaller prize tiers.
Arkansas Joins List of Mega Jackpot States
The winning ticket was sold in Arkansas, a state that does not often appear in headlines for massive lottery wins. This victory places Arkansas among a small group of states that have produced billion-dollar lottery winners.
Powerball officials confirmed the location shortly after the drawing but did not immediately release details about the retailer that sold the ticket or the identity of the winner. In most cases, it can take weeks or even months before a jackpot winner comes forward to claim their prize.
Lottery rules vary by state, including whether winners can remain anonymous. Arkansas law allows some level of privacy, which may influence how much information is eventually made public.
Powerball Officials React to Historic Win
Powerball leaders described the Christmas Eve win as a moment worth celebrating.
“Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner,” said Matt Strawn, chair of the Powerball Product Group and CEO of the Iowa Lottery. “This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize.”
He also thanked players across the country who participated during the long jackpot run, noting that lottery ticket sales help fund public programs and services in participating states.
Lottery officials frequently emphasize that proceeds from ticket sales support education, infrastructure, and other public initiatives, even when no jackpot winner is declared.
Rare Holiday Win
According to Powerball, jackpot wins on major holidays are uncommon. The last time someone won a Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve was in 2011. The jackpot has been won on Christmas Day only four times, with the most recent occurrence in 2013.
This adds to the uniqueness of the Arkansas win, making it a memorable moment in the game’s history.
What Happens Next for Powerball?
With the jackpot now claimed, Powerball resets to its starting level.
The next Powerball drawing will take place on Saturday, December 27, with an estimated jackpot of $20 million and a cash value of $9.2 million.
Powerball drawings are held three times a week, every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Odds Remain Extremely Long
Despite the excitement surrounding billion-dollar prizes, lottery officials continue to remind players of the odds.
The chance of winning the Powerball jackpot is 1 in 292.2 million. These long odds are intentional and allow jackpots to grow to massive sizes when no one wins.
However, Powerball offers multiple smaller prize categories, with better odds than the jackpot. Many players win modest amounts by matching fewer numbers.
As one player, Indianapolis glass artist Chris Winters, put it: “With the prize so high, I just bought one kind of impulsively. Why not?”
How Powerball Works
Powerball tickets cost $2 each. Players can add the Power Play option for an additional $1, which can multiply most non-jackpot prizes. Another optional feature, Double Play, costs $1 and offers a second chance to win up to $10 million.
To play, participants select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. Players can choose their own numbers or allow the system to generate them randomly.
Powerball is available in 45 states, along with Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Players do not need to be U.S. citizens or residents to buy tickets.
A Life-Changing Christmas
For one person in Arkansas, Christmas Eve 2025 will never be forgotten. What began as a $2 purchase turned into a fortune worth over $1.8 billion, ending months of anticipation and rewriting Powerball history.
As the excitement fades and the next jackpot cycle begins, this win serves as a reminder of both the dream and the reality of lottery games: the odds are slim, but when luck strikes, the impact can be enormous.
