A player in Arkansas struck gold, winning a whopping $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve. This win snapped a three-month dry spell without a top-prize winner. The winning numbers? 04, 25, 31, 52, 59, and the Powerball number was 19.
The jackpot climbed higher than expected, making it the second-largest in U.S. history and the biggest Powerball prize of 2025. If the winner opts for a lump sum, they can take home $834.9 million.
Matt Strawn, chair of the Powerball Product Group and CEO of the Iowa Lottery, welcomed the winner, saying, “This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize. We also want to thank all the players—every ticket purchased supports public programs across the country.”
Before this win, there were 46 draws without anyone hitting all six numbers. The last winner came on September 6, with a pair of players in Missouri and Texas sharing a $1.787 billion prize. Interestingly, this is just the second time a jackpot has been won in Arkansas, with the first back in 2010.
Powerball has a storied history, with Christmas Eve winners being rare. The last time was in 2011, and Christmas Day has seen four Powerball wins, the most recent in 2013.
The odds? They stand at 1 in 292.2 million, which means big jackpots come with a challenge. However, there are still plenty of smaller prizes, making it worthwhile for many. Ticket prices start at $2, and the game is available in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
With social media buzzing about the win, many players shared their thoughts, like Indianapolis glass artist Chris Winters, who admitted to buying a ticket on a whim. “With the prize so high, I just bought one kind of impulsively. Why not?”
The Powerball’s ability to create life-changing prizes underscores its place in American culture. It not only fuels dreams but also helps fund various public initiatives, proving that while winning is rare, playing does contribute to something larger. For more on Powerball statistics and history, check out Powerball.com.
