An Arkansas Powerball player won a $1.817 billion jackpot on Wednesday during the Christmas holiday, ending the lottery's three-month run without a top prize winner.
The winning numbers were 04, 25, 31, 52 and 59, and the Powerball number was 19.
Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot higher than previously expected, making it the second-largest in U.S. history and the largest Powerball prize of 2025, according to www.powerball.com. The jackpot had a one-time cash payout option of $834.9 million.
“Congratulations to the new Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an outstanding, life-changing prize,” Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chairman and Iowa Lottery CEO, was quoted as saying by the site. “We also want to thank all the players who joined this jackpot series—every ticket purchased helps support community programs and services across the country.”
The prize was obtained as a result of 46 consecutive drawings in which none of the six numbers was correct.
The last jackpot drawing took place on September 6, when players from Missouri and Texas won $1.787 billion.
Organizers said this is the second time the Powerball jackpot has been won by a ticket sold in Arkansas. This happened for the first time in 2010.
The last time someone won the Powerball jackpot was on Christmas Eve in 2011, Powerball said. The company added that lotteries have also been won on Christmas Day four times, most recently in 2013.
Powerball's 1 in 292.2 million odds are designed to create large jackpots, with prizes growing as they roll over to other lotteries when no one wins. Lottery officials note that the odds of winning many smaller prizes are much higher.
“Since the prize is so high, I just impulsively bought one. Why not?” Indianapolis glass artist Chris Winters said Wednesday.
Powerball tickets cost $2 and the game is offered in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Charlie McIntyre, chief executive of the New Hampshire Lottery, said Tuesday: “Just think of the stories you can tell future generations about the year you woke up a billionaire on Christmas Day.”
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Associated Press video journalist Obed Lamy in Indianapolis contributed.
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Olivia Diaz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
