A Lucky Arkansas Ticket Hits the $1. 8 Billion Powerball Jackpot

In a stroke of fortune, an Arkansas ticket holder became an instant billionaire after winning the Powerball jackpot worth $1.8 billion. This massive win comes just in time for the holidays, making it one of the largest lottery prizes in U.S. history.

Winning Numbers and Odds

The winning numbers—4, 25, 31, 52, 59, and the Powerball 19—were drawn late on Wednesday night. The odds of winning were astronomically low, at one in 292.2 million. This win marks only the second time Arkansas has seen a Powerball jackpot winner, with the first occurring over a decade ago in 2010.

Jackpot Growth and Payout Options

The jackpot grew to this staggering amount after no one won the previous drawing on Monday. Ticket sales surged, pushing the prize to $1.817 billion, making it the second-largest lottery prize ever in the U.S. and the biggest Powerball win of 2025.

The winner now faces a big decision: take the money as an annuitized payout over 29 years or choose a lump sum of around $834.9 million before taxes. Either way, it's a life-changing amount of cash.

Dreamers and Their Hopes

Powerball tickets cost just $2 each, but the chances of winning are slim. Still, people keep buying them, hoping for a miracle.

• Richie Vitale, a 71-year-old musician from New York, bought five tickets on Wednesday, joking that his odds were better than getting struck by lightning.
• John Campbell from Long Beach, California, braved the rain to buy his ticket, confident that he had the winning one. He even joked that he would share his winnings with others, especially the homeless. "I'm tired of seeing them sleeping on the street," he said.

Impact on Lottery Sales and Public Programs

The largest U.S. lottery prize ever was a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot won in California in 2022. Big jackpots like this one tend to drive up ticket sales, which in turn boosts revenue for state lottery funds that support education and other public programs.

The Reality of Winning

For many, winning the lottery is a dream, but the reality of suddenly having so much money can be both exciting and overwhelming. Carl Schmehl, a New York theater director, admitted feeling a mix of fear and excitement after buying tickets. "What would one do with so much money?" he wondered, hoping to use the money to help others if he won.