UPDATE: An Arkansas resident has just claimed the staggering $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot, choosing a lump-sum cash payment of $834.9 million before taxes. This momentous win comes from a ticket purchased at a Murphy USA convenience store in Cabot, Arkansas.
The winning ticket was announced on December 24, 2022, and has now been validated by the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. This jackpot is the second-largest in U.S. lottery history, following a $2.04 billion win in California in November 2022. The anticipation for the winner to step forward has been palpable, and lottery officials expressed relief that the winner sought legal and financial advice before claiming their prize.
Sharon Strong, Executive Director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, stated,
“We are thrilled that the winner is from Arkansas. This historic jackpot will have a positive impact on our state and our mission to raise funds for in-state scholarships.”
The winner has opted to remain anonymous, a choice many winners make for privacy and security.
If the winner had chosen an annuity, they would have received an initial payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5% each year. The jackpot, which spanned a record 47 consecutive drawings, generated over $15 million in ticket sales in Arkansas alone, awarding retailers nearly $750,000 in commissions. The Murphy USA store that sold the winning ticket will also receive a $50,000 commission.
The winning numbers drawn on Christmas Eve were 4, 25, 31, 52, and 59, with the red Powerball being 19 and a Power Play multiplier of 2X. The odds of winning such a massive jackpot stand at 1 in 292.2 million, highlighting the incredible luck of this Arkansas resident.
As excitement builds around this life-changing win, the lottery continues to emphasize the benefits for the community, including increased funding for scholarships. The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery is encouraging players to stay engaged as they seek to contribute to the state’s educational goals.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story, as the impact of this historic jackpot unfolds across Arkansas and beyond. Share your thoughts and excitement about this monumental win!
