Sam Corbishley
Published December 25, 2025 4:47pm
Updated December 25, 2025 4:47pm
Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook
Comment now
Comments
The single winning ticket, bought in Arkansas, matched all six numbers – 04, 25, 31, 52, 59, and the Powerball 19 (Picture: Reuters)
A Powerball player has won a whopping $1.817 billion (£1.3 billion) jackpot in a Christmas Eve prize draw.
The single winning ticket, bought in Arkansas, matched all six numbers – 04, 25, 31, 52, 59, and the Powerball 19.
It is only the second time a Powerball jackpot has been won by a ticketholder in Arkansas and represents the second biggest lottery win in US history.
Winners can either opt for a lump-sum payment – $834.9 million in this case – or receive the full amount in an annuity paid over 29 years.
Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO, said: ‘Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner!
‘This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize.
‘We also want to thank all the players who joined in this jackpot streak — every ticket purchased helps support public programs and services across the country.’
A convenience store employee prays while Jackpot payouts for Powerball and Mega Millions are displayed outside the store (Picture: AP)
The prize followed 46 consecutive drawings in which no one matched all six numbers.
The last drawing with a jackpot winner was September 6, when players in Missouri and Texas won $1.787 billion.
Organizers said it is the second time the Powerball jackpot has been won by a ticket sold in Arkansas.
It first happened in 2010.
The last time someone won a Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve was in 2011, Powerball said.
A convenience store employee grabs a Powerball lottery ticket for a customer on Monday (Picture: AP)
The company added that the sweepstakes also has been won on Christmas Day four times, most recently in 2013.
More Trending
-
Trump and Melania look more miserable than The Grinch in their Christmas card
Channel: US US 2 days ago By Luke Alsford - Dozens of missing children including one-year-old baby found in sex trafficking sting
- Missing girl found alive after 42 years with no idea she had been taken
- FBI says they've found more than 1,000,000 new Epstein documents
Powerball’s odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes growing as they roll over when no one wins.
Lottery officials note that the odds are far better for the game’s many smaller prizes.
‘With the prize so high, I just bought one kind of impulsively. Why not?’ Indianapolis glass artist Chris Winters said Wednesday.
Tickets cost $2, and the game is offered in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Arrow MORE: Police pull over speeding Santa just days before Christmas
Arrow MORE: FBI says they’ve found more than 1,000,000 new potential Epstein documents
Arrow MORE: Could Donald Trump use this little-known law to unleash another ICE crackdown in major US city?
Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source News UpdatesStay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.
Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign UpThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy