The Powerball lottery delivered a historic moment on Christmas Eve. A single winning ticket sold in Arkansas secured a record-breaking jackpot worth $1.817 billion, lottery officials confirmed. The draw stands as one of the most significant milestones in U.S. lottery history. It also brings an end to a record rollover streak.
Record-Breaking Draw Ends Historic Rollover Streak
The winning numbers drawn on 24 December were 4, 25, 31, 52, and 59, with Powerball number 19 and a Power Play multiplier of 2. The jackpot had rolled over for 47 consecutive draws, setting a new record for Powerball. This fueled unprecedented ticket sales nationwide.
In its official statement, Powerball said late ticket purchases in the final hours before the draw pushed the jackpot beyond earlier projections. This lifted the total prize to $1.817 billion. The winner may choose between the full annuity payout or a one-time cash option of $834.9 million.
Winning Ticket Sold in Arkansas
Powerball confirmed that the winning ticket was purchased at a Murphy USA gas station in Cabot, Arkansas. This is a city located near Little Rock with a population of just over 27,000 residents.
Matt Strawn, Chair of the Powerball Product Group and CEO of the Iowa Lottery, described the win as a defining moment for the game.
“Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner,” Strawn said. “This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize.”
According to Powerball organisers, the payout ranks as the second-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history.
Multiple Million-Dollar Prizes Nationwide
While only one ticket matched all six numbers, the draw also produced several high-value secondary winners. Eight tickets matched five numbers to win $1 million each, with winning tickets sold in California, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Beyond the top prizes, Powerball reported that 114 tickets nationwide won $50,000. Additionally, another 31 tickets claimed $100,000, underscoring the broad reach of the Christmas Eve draw.
Jackpot Resets After Landmark Win
Following the historic payout, the Powerball jackpot has reset to $20 million for the next draw, scheduled for Saturday. The reset marks the beginning of a new jackpot cycle. This comes after one of the longest and most lucrative runs in the game’s history.
Lottery officials noted that extended rollover streaks continue to drive public engagement and ticket sales. This reinforces Powerball’s status as one of the most prominent and widely followed lottery products in the United States.
