$983 million Mega Millions claimed. About $1.817 billion Powerball winner
$983 million Mega Millions winner who got ticket from Publix in Newnan, Georgia, took lump sum. Who won $1.817 billion Christmas Eve Powerball in Arkansas?
For two lucky lottery winners, it was quite a way to ring in 2026.
A Mega Millions drawing just before Thanksgiving made someone in Georgia a near-billionaire, and weeks later, the Christmas Eve Powerball for $1.817 billion matched one player’s ticket from Arkansas.
The Georgia Lottery announced Tuesday, Jan. 6, that the $983 million Mega Millions winner — a Peach State resident who bought their ticket from a Publix in Newnan, Georgia — came forward.
In November, just before Thanksgiving and the 2025 holiday season, Mega Millions drawings were rolling over and increasing in prize — to the tune of a cool $980 million.
Finally, one lucky ticket scored the perfect number combination just before Turkey Day. A Publix grocery store in Georgia sold the winning ticket that matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, Mega Millions drawing. Final sales pushed the total to $983 million, according to the Georgia Lottery.
The lottery frenzy of the 2025 holiday season continued. One ticket perfectly matched to win the Powerball jackpot for $1.817 billion on Wednesday, Dec. 24.
A Murphy USA gas station at a Walmart in Cabot, Arkansas, sold the winning ticket that matched all five numbers plus the Powerball in the 2025 Christmas Eve Powerball drawing. Final sales pushed the total from $1.7 billion to a whopping $1.817 billion.
As of Tuesday, Jan. 6, the $1.817 billion Powerball winner has not come forward to claim their prize. The Georgia Lottery, however, shared details about the $983 million Mega Millions winner.
Here’s what we know about the 2025 holiday season Mega Millions and Powerball lottery jackpots worth almost $1 billion or more — and its winners.
Who won $980 million Mega Millions in Georgia on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025?
On Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, Georgia Lottery said in a news release that the $983 million jackpot winner from the Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, Mega Millions drawing came forward Friday, Jan. 2, to claim the largest lottery prize in Georgia history.
The winner, who elected to stay anonymous, selected the cash option, which amounts to $453.6 million before taxes, according to galottery.com. They shared some details, the lottery organization said, including that “they are from Georgia and have family members who have benefited from the Georgia Lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship.”
Georgia Lottery added the winner plays the state lottery regularly to support HOPE and Pre-K, and seeing “the big jackpot on a Georgia Lottery billboard,” which at the time was for a whopping $980 million for Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, “reminded them to buy the lucky ticket.”
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Publix in Georgia sold $980 million Mega Millions ticket for Nov. 14, 2025
The $980 million Mega Millions ticket was sold at Publix, 4000 N. Highway 29, Newnan, Georgia, for the Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, Mega Millions lottery drawing. It was a quick pick ticket.
The Georgia Lottery said the store received a $50,000 commission for selling a near-$1 billion winning Mega Millions lottery ticket.
Retail bonuses vary by state — for example, two Publix stores in Florida received $100,000 each during previous billion-dollar jackpots. In California, retailers get $1 million.
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How long did winner from Georgia have to claim $983 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot?
Mega Millions jackpot winners have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prizes, per Georgia Lottery rules. In this case, the $980 million Mega Millions winner from Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, drawing had until Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to claim their prize in person at Georgia Lottery headquarters.
Georgia Lottery said the winner came forward to take the one-time lump sum option on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.
Who won $1.817 billion Powerball in Arkansas on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025? Who sold billion-dollar lottery ticket?
Murphy USA gas station, 208 S. Rockwood Drive, Cabot, Arkansas, sold the lottery ticket that matched all five numbers plus the Powerball in the Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, or Christmas Eve Powerball drawing for a then-$1.7 billion jackpot.
According to Murphy USA online, Murphy USA gas stations typically are near a Walmart store, while Murphy Express stores are standalone stations. “Murphy USA stations tend to be smaller, kiosk-format stores, while Murphy Express stations tend to be larger, traditional convenience store formats.” The company, headquartered in El Dorado, Arkansas, operates “more than 1,700 (Murphy USA stores) in 27 states” across the country.
Maps show the Murphy USA gas station in the Walmart Supercenter that sold the golden ticket is close to a Home Depot, Kroger, Olive Garden, and Cabot Emergency Hospital. Cabot is about 30 miles from Little Rock, Arkansas.
In a Dec. 30, 2025, press release from the Arkansas State Lottery, the Murphy USA received a $50,000 commission or lottery bonus for selling the billion-dollar Powerball ticket.
As of Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, almost two weeks after the Christmas Eve drawing, the winner of the $1.817 billion Powerball has not come forward.
How long does winner from Arkansas have to claim $1.817 billion Powerball lottery jackpot?
According to Powerball online, “ticket expiration dates typically vary from 90 days to one year depending on the selling jurisdiction. The expiration date is often listed on the back of your ticket.”
Powerball jackpot winners have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prizes, per Arkansas Scholarship Lottery rules. In this case, the $1.817 billion Powerball winner from Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, or Christmas Eve drawing has until Monday, June 22, 2026, to claim their prize in person at Arkansas Scholarship Lottery headquarters, 124 W. Capitol Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201. Call 501-683-2060.
How much is lump sum for $1.817 billion Powerball? How much will Arkansas winner get before taxes?
The sole jackpot winner could claim $1.817 billion over annual payments or take a one-time lump sum, valued at $834.9 million. “Both prize options are before taxes. If a winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year,” Powerball.com states.
According to a story in Forbes posted soon after the Powerball winner was announced, “if the cash reward is picked, the winnings will first drop to around $634.5 million after a mandatory federal withholding of 24% is applied.” Further, the winner would likely face a “federal marginal rate of 37% depending on their taxable income,” with another cut to the winnings to about $526 million (from $1.817 billion).
Arkansas Scholarship Lottery online states another “3.9% tax on prizes more than $5,000” will be withheld.
Can lottery winners in Arkansas stay anonymous?
When it comes to staying anonymous after winning a Powerball or Mega Millions grand prize, lottery rules differ per state.
The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery site says winners grant the ASL the right to use and publish (in print or online):
- the winner’s name
- photograph
- statements made by the winner
- audio sound clips and video or film footage of the winner
However since 2021, thanks to “Act 889” from the Arkansas State Legislature, formerly known as “SB355,” a lottery winner in Arkansas can remain anonymous for a short period of time, three years.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.
This content is sourced from www.tcpalm.com and is shared for informational purposes only.
