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UPDATE JAN 22, 2026

One Arkansas lottery player purchased the $1.8 billion jackpot-winning Powerball® ticket before Christmas, and now about a month later, they claimed the prize from the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL).

The winning Quick Pick ticket was sold at Murphy USA 7879, located at 208 S. Rockwood in Cabot, for the December 24th drawing. The winning numbers were 4, 25, 31, 52 and 59. The Powerball number was 19, and the Power Play® multiplier was 2.

The lucky winner opted to receive the prize as a one-time cash payment. Before tax withholdings, the lump-sum amount was $834.9 million. The winner elected to remain anonymous.

The $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot was a landmark event in more ways than one, ranking as the second-largest jackpot in both Powerball and U.S. lottery history and spanning a record of 47 consecutive draws.

“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. We are thrilled that the winner is from Arkansas!” said ASL Executive Director Sharon Strong.

“We’re proud to celebrate this moment, not only for our Arkansas winner and for Murphy USA, the Arkansas-based company that sold the winning ticket, but also for the positive impact this historic jackpot will have on our state and our mission to raise funds for in-state scholarships.”

The win has had a significant impact on the state. During this record-breaking jackpot cycle, Powerball generated $15,021,939 in cash sales in Arkansas while retailers statewide earned $768,267 in commissions. Now that the ticket has been claimed, Murphy USA 7879 will receive a $50,000 commission for selling the winning ticket. State taxes were withheld at 3.9% and federal taxes were withheld at 24%.

For more information about the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, visit MyArkansasLottery.com.

The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL) creates winning people, winning futures, and winning moments. Since 2009, the ASL has sold over $8 billion and returned more than $1.5 billion for scholarships to benefit Arkansas students. More than 822,000 college scholarships distributed by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education have been awarded to Arkansans. The lottery has awarded more than $5.6 billion in prizes to players, more than $467 million in retailer commissions, and provided more than $190 million in state and federal tax revenue.

Follow the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram. Visit MyArkansasLottery.com for more information on scholarships, winners, games, odds, promotions – and to join The Club for free. To get help with problem gambling, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

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UPDATE DEC 30, 2025

The whole nation is waiting for someone in Arkansas to claim a Powerball win worth $1.8 billion, but… there are two others who won lottery prizes in Arkansas on Christmas Eve. Read more below.

The winning ticket for the second-largest jackpot in Powerball^® history, as well as the second largest of all U.S. lottery games, was sold in Cabot, Arkansas. We know that.

1. Where was it sold?

The jackpot-winning ticket was sold at Murphy USA 7879, located at 208 S. Rockwood in Cabot, for the Dec. 24 drawing.

2. What were the numbers?

The winning numbers were 4, 25, 31, 52 and 59. The Powerball number was 19, and the Power Play® multiplier was 2.

3. What are their choices?

The lucky winner will have the choice between an annuitized prize of $1.817 billion or a lump sum payout of $834.9 million. Both prize options are prior to taxes.

4. Who else benefits?

a. The historic jackpot will not only benefit the winner, but the state of Arkansas.

b. Of the overall winnings, 3.9% will also be withheld for state taxes.

c. Murphy USA 7879, an Arkansas company, will receive a $50,000 retailer commission for selling the winning ticket.

d. And as usual, the proceeds from Powerball ticket sales will contribute to ASL’s mission of funding Arkansas student scholarships.

“This is a great moment for the state of Arkansas,” said Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL) Executive Director Sharon Strong. “For one thing, it will contribute positively to the state tax revenue. Beyond that, the winning ticket was sold at an Arkansas-based company, Murphy USA, bringing the impact full-circle. It demonstrates how beneficial the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery is to our state, from the players’ winnings to the retailer commissions that support our local communities and, ultimately, the funds raised for in-state scholarships.”

5. What’s taking so long?

a. According to Arkansas state policy, the winner has 180 days from the draw date to collect their winnings. Some people don’t rush—they take time to process the win, consult financial and legal advisors, or even secure their personal affairs first.

b. Even after a winner comes forward to the claim office, the lottery commission must verify the authenticity of the winning ticket. This includes checking the ticket against their system, validating purchase details, and ensuring it’s not counterfeit or tampered with.

c. Side note about fraud: Lottery officials warn players not to submit fake tickets to the Claim Center. The lottery commission has an extensive authentication process in place to validate whether a ticket is a winner. Also, it’s a Class D felony in Arkansas to fraudulently claim a prize-winning ticket.

d. Even after a winning ticket is verified to be legitimate, in states like Arkansas, winners have the right to remain anonymous for up to 3 years, unless they are public officials or close relatives of one.

e. Some winners choose to delay coming forward for personal safety and privacy reasons, especially with such a large prize. They often want to quietly establish legal trusts or LLCs before claiming the money.

f. Finally, it’s hard to believe in this case, but sometimes winners simply haven’t checked their tickets yet—or may have misplaced them. If you are trying to figure out how to claim your winnings, visit MyArkansasLottery.com. 

7. What about the other winners?

Now for the other winners from December 24th, 2025 – Two other winning tickets were also purchased for that drawing.

One ticket, worth $50,000, was purchased at Cantrell Mart Inc., located at 16000 Cantrell Road in Little Rock.

Another ticket worth $100,000 was sold at Walmart #5837 Fuel Station, 5000 W. Pauline Whitaker Pkwy in Rogers. That one is currently unclaimed.

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