UPDATE: A single ticket sold in Arkansas has won a staggering $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot, marking one of the largest lottery wins in U.S. history. The winning numbers drawn on December 24, 2025, were: 25-59-4-52-31 with Powerball 19.
This jackpot, which offers a cash option of $834.9 million, is the second-largest lottery prize ever awarded in the United States and the biggest Powerball prize of the year. It’s a historic moment for Arkansas, which has now produced two Powerball winners, the previous being in 2010.
Nationwide, eight tickets matched all five white balls, including two sold in New York and one in Pennsylvania. The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in over 292 million, making this win even more extraordinary.
Powerball tickets are priced at $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of the proceeds from ticket sales remain in the jurisdictions where they are sold, supporting various local initiatives.
Since its inception in 1992, Powerball has raised over $36 billion for good causes across the United States. The current list of the largest jackpots includes:
1. $2.04 billion – November 7, 2022 – California
2. $1.817 billion – December 24, 2025 – Arkansas
3. $1.787 billion – September 6, 2025 – Missouri, Texas
4. $1.765 billion – October 11, 2023 – California
5. $1.586 billion – January 13, 2016 – California, Florida, Tennessee
The New York Lottery continues to be a major contributor to educational funding, with $3.7 billion allocated in the fiscal year 2022-2023 to support schools across the state.
As excitement builds, many are eager to learn about the next drawing. Powerball drawings occur on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET, and can be viewed live on various platforms.
Stay tuned for more updates as the winner of this life-changing jackpot comes forward. Share your thoughts and excitement on social media, and remember to play responsibly. For those struggling with gambling addiction, help is available through the New York State’s confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or by texting HOPENY (467369).
This is a developing story; more details will follow.
