An Arkansas lottery player is ending the year with an extraordinary holiday surprise after winning one of the largest prizes ever recorded in U.S. lottery history during the Christmas Eve Powerball drawing.
The winning ticket, sold in Arkansas, matched all the required numbers to claim a Powerball jackpot valued at approximately $1.817 billion, instantly transforming the holiday season into a life-changing moment for the ticket holder. The winner now faces a major decision: accept the full jackpot through annual payments or take a one-time cash option estimated at $834.9 million before taxes.
Officials with the Multi-State Lottery Association confirmed that the Christmas Eve prize ranks as the second-largest lottery jackpot ever won in the United States and represents the largest Powerball win of the year.
“This is a truly remarkable and rare event,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and CEO of the Iowa Lottery, in a statement congratulating the winner. He described the jackpot as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that can redefine the future of the individual who claimed it.
The jackpot had continued to grow after Monday night’s drawing ended without a winner, pushing the estimated prize past $1.7 billion ahead of Wednesday’s numbers.
In addition to its massive size, the win also marked a milestone in the game’s history. The Christmas Eve drawing was the 47th consecutive draw without a prior jackpot winner, setting a new record for the longest rollover streak in the history of Powerball.
Lottery officials say the winner has a limited time to come forward and claim the prize, while fans nationwide are celebrating a holiday drawing that will be remembered for years to come.
