On Christmas Eve, while most folks were checking their stockings twice, one lucky soul in Arkansas checked a Powerball ticket and discovered a $1.817 billion surprise—the second-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. A single ticket sold in the state matched all six numbers in Wednesday’s drawing, turning a humble $2 purchase into a fortune that could buy a few extra reindeer.
This windfall arrives at a time when holiday spending is already through the roof, yet one Arkansan now faces the delightful dilemma of whether to take the $834.9 million lump sum or stretch it over 30 years. Meanwhile, lottery officials note that every ticket sold supports public programs, so the rest of us contributed a tiny bit to this massive payout—talk about involuntary generosity.
Eight other players walked away with $1 million each for matching five numbers, a consolation prize that suddenly makes their holiday bonuses look modest. With jackpots ballooning in recent years, these mega-wins remind everyone that dreams do come true, though the odds remain stubbornly astronomical.
The winning numbers drawn on December 24 were 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, and the red Powerball 19. Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot to $1.817 billion, edging it just shy of the record $2.04 billion won in California back in 2022.
This marks only the second time Powerball has seen back-to-back billion-dollar-plus jackpots, following the $1.787 billion split between Missouri and Texas in September. The run lasted a record 47 drawings without a winner, building suspense that rivaled any holiday movie cliffhanger.
Arkansas has now claimed its second Powerball jackpot ever, the first dating back to 2010. Winners can opt for the annuity—one immediate payment plus 29 annual ones increasing by 5%—or the cash lump sum, both before taxes chew off a hefty portion.
Powerball, launched in 1992, has produced holiday wins before: once on Christmas Eve in 2011 and four times on Christmas Day. Yet none of those reached a billion until this festive edition. Tickets, at $2 each, are available in 45 states plus D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Drawings happen Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. ET. Odds of hitting the jackpot sit at 1 in 292.2 million—better than getting struck by lightning twice, but not by much. Jackpots have grown enormous over the decade as rules tweaked and odds slimmed, turning occasional players into hopeful regulars.
Smaller prizes dotted the drawing: 114 tickets nabbed $50,000, and 31 scored $100,000. For the grand winner, anonymity rules vary by state, but in Arkansas, the spotlight might shine bright. This Christmas Eve coup ensures one household’s New Year resolutions involve far more than gym memberships.
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