Published on: December 29, 2025, 12:12h.
Updated on: December 29, 2025, 12:25h.
- The Powerball ticket for the Christmas Eve drawing was won in Arkansas.
- The winner has 180 days from December 24 to claim their prize.
On Christmas Eve, the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history was claimed. The winning Powerball ticket was purchased in Arkansas.
Five days after the drawing, many are eager to find out who the winner of this life-changing fortune might be. Officials with the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery have requested patience from the public.
The December 24 Powerball draw was only the second time a jackpot has been won in Arkansas, the first occurrence being in 2010. According to lottery officials, the $1.817 billion jackpot is yet to be claimed.
Winners have the choice to receive the full $1.817 billion jackpot through immediate payment followed by 29 increasing annual payments, or opt for a one-time cash payout of $834.9 million. These amounts are before federal and state taxes.
The winning white balls drawn on December 24 were 4, 25, 31, 52, and 59, with a red Powerball of 19 and a Power Play multiplier of 2X. The odds of matching all six numbers stand at 1 in over 292.2 million.
Powerball Winner Insights
Historically, most Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot winners have selected the cash option.
For the winner from Arkansas, the $834.9 million cash option would be reduced by 37% for federal taxes to about $525 million. Following an additional 3.9% state tax deduction, the net payout would be around $493.5 million.
If the winner chooses the full annuity option of $1.817 billion, they would ultimately receive roughly $1.075 billion after both federal and state tax deductions by 2055.
While the winner has 180 days from December 24 to claim their prize, Arkansas lottery regulations permit winners of more than $500K to maintain their anonymity for up to three years. This grace period is intended to help substantial lottery winners manage their newfound wealth.
States such as Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Wyoming allow lottery winners to remain anonymous indefinitely. However, most states require winners to be part of public records to maintain transparency in lottery operations.
Location of the Winning Ticket
According to Powerball officials, the winning ticket for the Christmas Eve drawing was purchased at the Murphy USA gas station and convenience store in Cabot, located near Walmart Supercenter.
Cabot, a suburban city roughly 20 miles northeast of Little Rock, has a population of about 28,000 residents. Known for its high-quality schools and small-town atmosphere, Cabot boasts a median household income of approximately $73,000, making it one of the more affluent communities in Arkansas.