A Powerball player in Arkansas has won a $1.817 billion lottery jackpot : NPR

The Powerball lottery game jackpot is displayed outside of Ted’s State Line Mobil station, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, in Methuen, Mass.

Charles Krupa/AP

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Charles Krupa/AP

An Arkansas Powerball player won a $1.817 billion jackpot in Wednesday’s Christmas Eve drawing, ending the lottery game’s three-month streak without a big winner.

The winning numbers were 04, 25, 31, 52 and 59, with the Powerball number being 19.

Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot higher than expected, making it the second-largest prize in U.S. history and the largest Powerball prize of 2025, according to www.powerball.com. The jackpot featured a lump sum cash payout option of $834.9 million.

“Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize,” Matt Strawn, president of the Powerball Product Group and CEO of the Iowa Lottery, was quoted as saying by the website. “We also want to thank all the players who participated in this jackpot series: every ticket purchased helps support public programs and services across the country.”

The prize followed 46 consecutive draws in which no one matched all six numbers.

The last drawing with a jackpot winner took place on September 6, when players from Missouri and Texas won $1.787 billion.

Organizers said it was the second time the Powerball jackpot was won by a ticket sold in Arkansas. This first happened in 2010.

The last time someone won a Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve was in 2011, Powerball said. The company added that the competition had also been won four times on Christmas Day, most recently in 2013.

Powerball odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes increasing as they come back when no one wins. Lottery officials note that the odds are much better for the game’s many small prizes.

“With such a high price, I just bought one type impulsively. Why not?” Indianapolis glass artist Chris Winters said Wednesday.

Tickets are $2 and the game is offered in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.