Arkansas Lottery Player Claims $1.82 Billion Powerball Jackpot While Preserving Anonymity

In a remarkable turn of events, an Arkansas lottery player has stepped forward to claim the second-largest Powerball jackpot in history, a staggering $1.82 billion. The winner, whose identity remains protected under Arkansas state law, opted for the lump sum payment of $834.9 million before taxes rather than the full amount paid out over 29 years. This historic win ended a record-breaking drought of 47 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner, bringing immense excitement to the state of Arkansas. “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,” said Sharon Strong, Executive Director of the Arkansas Lottery. The winning numbers that changed this fortunate individual’s life were 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, with Powerball 19.

The life-altering ticket was purchased at a Murphy USA gas station in Cabot, Arkansas, a small city about 25 miles northeast of Little Rock. For its role in selling the winning ticket, the store received a $50,000 commission. This marks only the second time in history that a Powerball jackpot has been won in Arkansas, with the previous winner claiming a comparatively modest $25 million prize back in January 2010. Arkansas lottery officials expressed particular pride that the winner is a resident of their state and that the ticket was sold at Murphy USA, which is headquartered in Arkansas. “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,” Strong noted in the official announcement.

Under Arkansas state law, winners of prizes worth $500,000 or more have the option to keep their identity confidential for three years after claiming their winnings. This provision offers the winner valuable time to adjust to their newfound wealth while maintaining privacy and security—a decision that lottery officials fully supported. The anonymous winner’s jackpot ranks as the second-largest in Powerball history, trailing only behind the record-breaking $2.04 billion won by Edwin Castro of California in November 2022. By choosing the cash option, the Arkansas winner will immediately receive the $834.9 million lump sum, though this amount will be substantially reduced after federal and state taxes are applied. Despite the tax implications, the remaining sum still represents a life-changing fortune for the winner.

The drawing produced more than just one winner, albeit on a much smaller scale. Jeffrey Dimond of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, came tantalizingly close to the grand prize, matching four numbers plus the Powerball. His “Easy Pick” ticket earned him $100,000—double the usual $50,000 payout for that combination. While certainly disappointing to miss the jackpot by just one number, Dimond’s win represents a significant consolation prize. The $1.82 billion jackpot had grown to such an enormous size precisely because of the unusually long streak without a grand prize winner, captivating the nation’s attention and driving ticket sales to extraordinary levels as the potential payout continued to climb with each drawing.

Following the Christmas Eve jackpot win in Arkansas, the Powerball prize reset to its starting point of $20 million, as is customary after a jackpot is claimed. However, it didn’t take long for the prize to grow substantially once again. By the time of Wednesday night’s drawing, the jackpot had already reached $209 million—and lightning struck again when a player in North Carolina matched all six numbers. The winning ticket, bearing the numbers 11, 26, 27, 53, 55, and Powerball 12, was sold at West 10th Mart in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, just eight miles south of the Virginia-North Carolina border. Like the Arkansas winner before them, this newest multimillionaire faces the choice between an annuity of $209.3 million paid over 29 years or a one-time payment of $95.3 million before taxes. They have 180 days from the drawing date to come forward and claim their prize.

These consecutive wins represent life-changing moments for the individuals holding the winning tickets, while also benefiting the states where the tickets were purchased. Lottery proceeds in Arkansas support college scholarships for state residents, meaning the excitement surrounding the massive jackpot and resulting ticket sales generated significant funding for education. Similarly, the North Carolina Education Lottery directs its proceeds toward educational programs throughout the state. As these recent winners navigate their new financial reality, lottery players across the country continue purchasing tickets in hopes of becoming the next overnight millionaire, driving the next jackpot upward and continuing the cycle of hope, anticipation, and occasional astronomical payouts that has made Powerball one of America’s most popular lottery games for decades.