Mystery Winner Claims $1.8 Billion Powerball Jackpot in Arkansas

Mystery Winner Claims $1.8 Billion Powerball Jackpot in Arkansas

In a story that’s captivating the nation, the winner of the massive $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot—drawn on Christmas Eve 2025—has finally come forward to claim their life-changing prize. Arkansas Scholarship Lottery officials announced on January 22, 2026, that the lucky ticket holder, who has chosen to remain anonymous, stepped up to collect the winnings.

The single winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased at Murphy USA 7879, a gas station located at 208 S. Rockwood in Cabot, Arkansas—a small suburb about 26 miles north of Little Rock. The winning numbers from the December 24 drawing were 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, with the Powerball 19 and a 2x Power Play multiplier.

This jackpot ranks as the second-largest in U.S. lottery history, behind only the $2.04 billion prize won in California in 2022. It grew over a record 47 consecutive drawings without a winner, building massive excitement nationwide.

The winner opted for the lump-sum cash payout of approximately $834.9 million before taxes. After federal withholding (typically 24% upfront, plus more at tax time) and any applicable state taxes, the take-home amount is estimated around $493 million—still an astronomical sum that could fund generations of dreams.

Arkansas law allows winners of prizes over $500,000 to stay anonymous, so we may never know the identity of this newfound billionaire. Lottery Executive Director Sharon Strong praised the winner for taking time to seek legal and financial advice before claiming: “We’re thrilled that the winner is from Arkansas!”

The win isn’t just a boon for the ticket holder. The Murphy USA station receives a $50,000 commission, and the jackpot run generated over $15 million in sales for the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, funding college scholarships across the state. This marks only the second Powerball jackpot ever won in Arkansas (the first was in 2010).

From gas station snacks to instant billionaire—talk about a holiday miracle! While the winner stays in the shadows, the rest of us can dream about what we’d do with that kind of money: private islands, philanthropy, or just never pumping gas again.

Congratulations to the mystery Arkansan. The next Powerball jackpot has reset to $20 million—hey, you never know!