UPDATE: A single Powerball ticket sold in Arkansas has just won a staggering $1.817 billion jackpot on Christmas Eve, making it the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history! The life-changing numbers drawn were: 25-59-4-52-31 with Powerball 19.
This monumental win, with a cash option of $834.9 million, marks the largest Powerball prize awarded this year. It’s a truly remarkable moment, as this is only the second time the Powerball jackpot has been won by a ticket sold in Arkansas, the first occurring in 2010.
Nationwide, the excitement continues as eight additional tickets matched all five white balls, including two sold in New York and one in Pennsylvania. The odds of winning such a massive jackpot stand at an astonishing 1 in over 292 million!
Powerball tickets, priced at $2 each, are available in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Notably, over half of the proceeds from ticket sales remain within the jurisdiction where the ticket was purchased, supporting local communities.
Since its inception in 1992, the Powerball lottery has generated more than $36 billion for good causes across the United States, significantly impacting educational funding and community projects.
To put this jackpot into perspective, here are the top Powerball jackpots in history:
- $2.04 billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – California
- $1.817 billion – Dec. 24, 2025 – Arkansas
- $1.787 billion – Sept. 6, 2025 – Missouri and Texas
- $1.765 billion – Oct. 11, 2023 – California
- $1.586 billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – California, Florida, Tennessee
With millions of players across the nation, the thrill of the Powerball continues to captivate. New Yorkers can tune in to live lottery drawings every day at 2:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., as well as Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8:15 p.m. on ABC 7 New York. Powerball drawings occur on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m..
For anyone struggling with gambling addiction, help is available through the State’s confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY to 467369.
As the dust settles on this historic win, the excitement is palpable. Who will claim the life-altering prize? Stay tuned for updates as this story develops!
