Published on: January 17, 2026, 03:29h.

Updated on: January 17, 2026, 03:29h.

• A Powerball ticket valued at $1.817 billion, sold in Arkansas, is yet to be claimed.
• The Arkansas Lottery indicates that the winning ticket must be redeemed by June 22, 2026.

Speculation is rampant in Arkansas regarding the identity of the fortunate winner of the massive Christmas Eve Powerball jackpot worth $1.817 billion.

A ticket purchased at the Murphy USA gas station in Cabot, adjacent to the Walmart Supercenter, matched the Dec. 24 Powerball numbers: 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, along with the red Powerball 19. The winner can opt for the total prize distributed over 29 years or choose a one-time cash payment of $834.9 million, both figures being before any applicable federal and state taxes.

It is common for significant lottery winners to seek legal and financial counsel before publicly revealing their identity. However, as time passes, increasing rumors and speculation begin to circulate.

“Whenever I go to the grocery store or anywhere in town, people always ask me, ‘Hey Brian, were you the winner?’” remarked Arkansas House Speaker Brian Evans (R-Cabot) in an interview with the Arkansas Advocate.

Evans clarified that he is not the winner. Because of his position as an elected official, he would not qualify for the state’s three-year anonymity provision.

Lottery Buzz

Arkansas regulations permit the redemption of a Powerball ticket within 180 days following the draw. Therefore, the winning ticket from Christmas Eve must be claimed by June 22, 2026.

Since Cabot is conveniently located and the ticket was bought at a gas station off Interstate 57, which stretches nearly from Missouri to Texas, the winner could potentially be anyone. They could be a local resident or a traveler passing through who decided to try their luck.

Local residents are casting curious glances, wondering if they are about to become wealthy. Colleagues are speculating among themselves about who might be preparing to quit and cash in the winning ticket.

Yet with each passing day, the concern rises that the winning ticket may be lost or thrown away. The ticket cannot be claimed until at least Tuesday, Jan. 21, as the Arkansas Lottery’s Claim Centers will be closed over the weekend and on Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The winner will have to decide between the annuity or lump sum options, and they must also determine if they want to remain anonymous for three years. After this period, Arkansas mandates that lottery winners be part of the public record.

The $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot stands as the second-largest lottery reward in U.S. history, trailing the $2.04 billion Powerball prize won in November 2022.

Is Today Your Lucky Day?

As time will reveal if the Christmas Eve Powerball drawing truly transformed someone’s life. Tonight offers another chance, although the jackpot is considerably smaller.

Powerball has surged from the Christmas Eve pot, reaching an estimated jackpot of $179 million for tonight’s draw. The lump sum option stands at $81.5 million.

Meanwhile, Mega Millions features a larger jackpot at $250 million (with a cash option of $113.5 million). The next Mega Millions draw is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20.