$1.8 Billion Powerball Jackpot Winner Claims Prize in Arkansas
Anonymity and Cash Payment
The winner of the historic Christmas Eve $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot has come forward to claim their prize, according to officials from the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. The identity of the winner will remain confidential under state law, which allows individuals who win over $500,000 to keep their information private. The winner opted for a start-time cash payout, taking home approximately $834.9 million before tax deductions.
Ticket Purchase and Winning Numbers
The fortunate ticket was purchased at a Murphy USA gas station in Cabot, Arkansas, which will receive a $50,000 commission for selling the winning ticket. The winning numbers were drawn as follows: 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, and the Powerball number was 19.
Prize Distribution and Sales Impact
In addition to the jackpot, Powerball officials reported that eight tickets won $1 million each, while another 114 tickets secured $50,000 prizes, and 31 tickets won $100,000. The recent surge in ticket sales, driven by a last-minute rush from players, contributed to the jackpot’s higher-than-expected total. This specific jackpot ranks as the second-largest in Powerball history and the second-largest in U.S. history overall, with 47 draws conducted over a span of more than three months before a winner emerged.
According to Arkansas lottery officials, the Powerball generated over $15 million in cash sales throughout the state during this cycle. Retailers profited from these sales, earning over $768,000 in commissions.
Support for Education
The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery noted that a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales is allocated to scholarships for students within the state. This initiative underscores the lottery’s commitment to supporting educational opportunities for Arkansas residents.
Lottery Trends
Over the past decade, lottery jackpots have increased significantly in size, although winning them has become more challenging. The largest jackpot in U.S. history was recorded as a $2.04 billion Powerball prize in 2022. Notably, 13 of the 20 largest payouts in U.S. history have occurred since 2023.
The development highlights the growing trend of rapidly escalating lottery jackpots, capturing public interest and engagement.
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