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A single Powerball ticket sold in Cabot, Arkansas matched all six winning numbers to secure a $1.817 billion (£1.36 billion) jackpot in the Christmas Eve drawing, making it the second-largest lottery prize ever won in the United States.
The winning numbers were 4, 25, 31, 52 and 59, with the Powerball 19, according to official results.
Final ticket sales pushed the total jackpot past earlier estimates, making it the biggest Powerball prize of 2025 and only surpassed by the $2.04 billion jackpot won in California in 2022.
The winner can choose between a 29-year annuity or a lump-sum cash payment of approximately $834.9 million before taxes.
Officials confirmed that this marks only the second time a jackpot-winning Powerball ticket has been sold in Arkansas, the first being in 2010.
Lottery authorities have not yet identified the winner, as claims centres were closed over the holiday period and will reopen after Christmas Day.
The draw ended a three-month stretch without a top-prize winner, following a previous $1.787 billion prize on September 6 shared by players in Missouri and Texas.
In addition to the jackpot, eight other tickets nationwide matched the five white balls to win $1 million each, and dozens of other players earned secondary prizes for matching a combination of numbers.
Powerball tickets cost $2, and the odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 292.2 million, highlighting the extraordinarily slim chance of success.
The extraordinary win has drawn widespread attention, with discussions across social media about the potential impact on the winner’s life and local community.
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