Someone who bought the Dec. 24 Powerball ticket in Arkansas won an estimated $1.87 billion. Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, winners of prizes over $500,000 can request up to three years of confidentiality, though that period is shortened to six months for elected officials or their close relatives. The winning numbers were 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 (Powerball 19, Power Play 2). The winner may take a 30-year annuity increasing 5% annually or a one-time pre-tax lump sum of $834.9 million.
Who Won the $1.87 Billion Powerball? Arkansas Law May Keep Winner Anonymous For Years
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via GettyPowerball ticket (stock image)
Someone who bought a Powerball ticket on Dec. 24 matched all the numbers to claim an estimated $1.87 billion jackpot — one of the largest prizes in the game's history. The winning ticket was sold in Arkansas, where state law allows large-prize winners to request temporary confidentiality, meaning the winner's identity may not become public immediately.
How Long Can The Winner Remain Anonymous?
Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, lottery winners who receive prizes greater than $500,000 may request temporary confidentiality of their identity. For this $1.87 billion prize, the winner's name will generally remain private for up to three years. An exception applies to elected officials (or close relatives of elected officials), in which case the confidentiality period is shortened to six months.
Winning Numbers, Prize Options And Context
The official Powerball numbers drawn on Wednesday, Dec. 24 were 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, with a Powerball of 19 and a Power Play multiplier of 2, according to the Powerball website.
GettyLottery sign (stock image)
The ticket holder can choose between a 30-year annuity, with payments that increase by 5% each year, or a one-time lump-sum payment of $834.9 million. Both figures are stated before federal and state taxes.
"Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize," said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and CEO of the Iowa Lottery. He added thanks to players, noting that ticket sales help support public programs and services across the country.
Why The Jackpot Reached $1.87 Billion
The jackpot grew to $1.87 billion after multiple rollovers — there had been no major Powerball jackpot winner since September — allowing funds from successive drawings to accumulate. This is only the second time a Powerball jackpot-winning ticket has been sold in Arkansas; the state's first winning ticket was sold in 2010.
For context, the largest Powerball prize on record was the $2.04 billion jackpot won in 2022 by a ticket sold in Altadena, California, the largest lottery payout in history.
What Happens Next: Because Arkansas law permits temporary anonymity for large prize winners, the public may not learn who purchased the winning ticket for months or possibly years, depending on the confidentiality request and any applicable exceptions.
