News writer, Interviewer
The wait is over. An Arkansas lottery player has claimed the $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot from the December 24 drawing—the second-largest prize in U.S. lottery history.
The winning ticket was sold at Murphy USA 7879 in Cabot, a small Arkansas town northeast of Little Rock. The Quick Pick ticket matched all five white balls—4, 25, 31, 52, and 59—plus the red Powerball number 19.
The winner chose the lump-sum cash option of $834.9 million before taxes and elected to remain anonymous. Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Executive Director Sharon Strong stated:
Everyone was anxiously waiting for the winner to step forward, but we are happy they took the time to seek legal counsel and financial advice first, as we recommended.
An enormous impact
This wasn't just big. It was historic.
The $1.8 billion prize ranks as the second-largest jackpot in both Powerball and U.S. lottery history. The jackpot rolled for a record 47 consecutive draws before someone hit. That's 47 drawings without a grand prize winner. Each rollover pushed the jackpot higher and drove ticket sales across the country.
Arkansas benefited directly. During the jackpot cycle, Powerball generated over $15 million in cash sales in the state. Retailers earned $768,267 in commissions. Murphy USA 7879, the store that sold the winning ticket, will receive a $50,000 bonus commission.
Where the money goes
Taxes take a significant bite. State taxes were withheld at 3.9%. Federal taxes were withheld at 24%. That's roughly $233 million gone before the winner sees a dime.
But the win also benefits Arkansas students. Lottery proceeds fund college scholarships through the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. Since 2009, the lottery has raised more than $1.5 billion for scholarships. Over 822,000 scholarships have been awarded to Arkansas students.
The lottery has also distributed more than $5.6 billion in prizes to players and provided over $190 million in state and federal tax revenue.
What happens now?
The winner walks away with roughly $600 million after withholdings. Not a bad Christmas present.
Murphy USA, an Arkansas-based company, gets to celebrate selling the winning ticket. The state gets scholarship funding. And somewhere in Arkansas, someone just became extraordinarily wealthy.
The winner made the right call by staying anonymous and seeking professional advice. Sudden wealth can be overwhelming. Legal and financial guidance helps protect the prize—and the winner.
Strong emphasized the importance of taking time before claiming. She said:
We're thrilled that the winner is from Arkansas. We're proud to celebrate this moment, not only for our Arkansas winner and for Murphy USA, but also for the positive impact this historic jackpot will have on our state and our mission to raise funds for in-state scholarships.
Could lightning strike twice?
Probably not in Arkansas anytime soon. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. This was Arkansas's moment.
But someone, somewhere, will eventually win the next big jackpot. The question is: will they wait 47 drawings again?
For now, Arkansas has its winner. The ticket has been claimed. And one person's life has changed forever.
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