A Powerball player in Arkansas has claimed a staggering $1.817 billion jackpot from the Christmas Eve drawing, bringing an end to an extended three-month period without a top-prize winner in the popular lottery game. The winning amount exceeded initial estimates due to a surge in ticket sales, marking it not only as the largest Powerball prize of 2025 but also the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history.
For those opting for the lump sum cash payment, the winner will receive approximately $834.9 million. Lottery officials celebrated the moment, with Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group chair and CEO of the Iowa Lottery, expressing his excitement: “Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize.” He also acknowledged the contributions of players, noting that every ticket purchased supports public programs and services across the country.
This momentous win comes after 46 consecutive drawings in which no player matched all six winning numbers. The last jackpot winner prior to this drawing was on September 6, when a combined total of $1.787 billion was claimed by players in Missouri and Texas.
The Christmas Eve drawing stands out, as it marks the first time in over a decade that someone has won a Powerball jackpot on this day, with the previous win occurring in 2011. Interestingly, the lottery’s sweepstakes has seen winners on Christmas Day four times, most recently in 2013.
Powerball is known for its impressive odds, currently standing at 1 in 292.2 million, which are designed to generate vast jackpots as they roll over without a winner. Despite the long-shot odds for the grand prize, lottery officials emphasize that there are better odds for the numerous smaller prizes available in the game.
Chris Winters, a glass artist from Indianapolis, shared his thoughts on the jackpot, stating he purchased a ticket on a whim, adding, “With the prize so high, I just bought one kind of impulsively. Why not?” Tickets for Powerball are priced at $2 and are sold in 45 states, as well as in Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
