Powerball Lottery Winner Claims Second Biggest Prize in History With US$1.82 Billion Jackpot

A single Powerball ticket sold in Arkansas matched all six numbers in the Christmas Eve drawing to claim an astonishing and historic $1.82 billion jackpot, making it the second biggest prize in Powerball and U.S. lottery history. The monumental win — the largest Powerball prize awarded in 2025 — has captured national attention and reshaped holiday fortunes for one anonymous player, according to KPBS Public Media.

The winning ticket matched the numbers 04, 25, 31, 52, and 59, with Powerball 19 in the Wednesday night drawing, according to official Powerball results. Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot higher than initially expected, securing its place as the second largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever, trailing only the $2.04 billion Powerball prize won in California in 2022.

Powerball Lottery winner claims second biggest prize in history with US$1.82 billion jackpot

Powerball, a multistate lottery game played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, has seen jackpots grow rapidly in recent years as players chase life-changing money. In this case, the jackpot built over 46 consecutive drawings without a top-prize winner — a streak that generated intense public interest and record ticket sales.

Lottery officials confirmed that the Arkansas ticket buyer now faces a choice between taking the full historic jackpot as about $1.82 billion in annual installments over roughly 30 years or opting for a one-time lump sum cash payment of about US$834.9 million before taxes. The lump sum option is typically preferred by many winners, though federal and potential state taxes will significantly reduce the amount received, ABC7 Los Angeles reports.

Arkansas law allows winners of jackpots over US$500,000 to remain anonymous for up to three years, meaning the identity of the Powerball winner could remain undisclosed for some time. According to AP News, officials also noted that this is only the second time a Powerball jackpot has been won on Christmas Eve, with the last occurrence over a decade ago.

The odds and broader impact

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are an astounding 1 in 292.2 million, underscoring the slim probability of matching all six numbers drawn. Despite the long odds, millions of lottery tickets were sold throughout the jackpot’s build-up, funneling funds into state education, public services, and community programs as part of the game’s revenue structure.

Across the country, numerous lower-tier prizes were also claimed in the Christmas Eve drawing. Several players won US$1 million prizes for matching five white balls, and others scored tens of thousands of dollars for smaller matches. The nationwide enthusiasm for the game, says NBC New York, illustrates Powerball’s enduring popularity as Americans chase the dream of sudden wealth.

A year of big jackpots

This massive $1.82 billion win caps an extraordinary year for Powerball. Earlier in 2025, a $1.78 billion jackpot was split between winners in Missouri and Texas, marking another historic payout and one of the game’s largest jackpots. The Arkansas win now stands as the top Powerball prize of 2025 and one of the most talked-about lottery outcomes in recent memory.

With the jackpot claimed, Powerball officials said the game’s top prize resets to its base level for the next drawing, currently around US$20 million, with regular drawings continuing on a Monday-Wednesday-Saturday schedule. Players looking to replicate this rare fortune will once again face those long odds, but the excitement sparked by this second-largest jackpot ever is sure to fuel ticket sales into the new year.