A remarkable turn of events unfolded in Arkansas as a player claimed a staggering Powerball jackpot of $1.817 billion (£1.34 billion) from the Christmas Eve drawing, marking it as the second-largest lottery prize ever recorded. The single winning ticket remarkably matched all six numbers drawn: 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, along with the red Powerball number 19. The winner now faces a significant decision, with the option to take a lump-sum cash payment of $834.9 million.
According to the lottery operator, this extraordinary win is only the second Powerball jackpot secured by a ticket sold in Arkansas. However, the identity of the winner remains undisclosed. The record for the largest single-ticket Powerball jackpot is still held by a $2.04 billion prize won in 2022 by a player in Altadena, California.
To secure the jackpot, lottery players must match all five white balls along with the red Powerball drawn during the lottery. The cost of a Powerball ticket is $2, and the odds of winning the jackpot stand at a daunting 1 in 292.2 million, as stated by the game’s organizers. Winners are presented with the choice of either accepting a lump-sum payment or receiving the prize in annuity installments spread over 29 years, though most tend to opt for the lump sum.
Powerball, which commenced in 1992, is now available in 45 of the 50 US states, the District of Columbia, and US territories including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is important to note that federal regulations impose taxes on winnings, which typically range from 24% to 37%, in addition to various state taxes.
