Single Ticket Wins $1.8 Billion Powerball Jackpot on Christmas Eve
A single ticket sold in Arkansas has won the $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2025. The record-setting prize comes just days before the start of the New Year, bringing hope and excitement to lottery players nationwide.
The winning combination for the Dec. 24 drawing included the numbers 4, 25, 31, 52, and 59, with the red Powerball being 19. A Power Play multiplier of 2X was also in play, adding further intrigue to the prize structure.
Alongside the record jackpot, eight other tickets won $1 million by matching the first five numbers, though they missed the Powerball. These winning tickets were sold in various states, including Ohio, California, and New York.
Details of the Record-Breaking Jackpot
This massive jackpot marks the second-largest Powerball prize in history, surpassed only by the $2.04 billion prize won in California in November 2022. The Dec. 24 drawing was the 47th in the ongoing jackpot run, which is now a Powerball record for the most consecutive draws in a single jackpot cycle.
The cash option for the Christmas Eve jackpot was an eye-popping $834.9 million. While the grand prize is extraordinary, the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot remain daunting — at 1 in 292.2 million.
When is the Next Powerball Drawing?
Powerball enthusiasts can look forward to the next drawing on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. The jackpot for this drawing has reset to an estimated $20 million, with a cash value of $9.2 million.
Where to Buy Powerball Tickets
Powerball tickets can be purchased in 45 states, including Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, as well as in Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen or resident to play, though players must be of legal age in their state.
Tickets are typically sold at gas stations, convenience stores, and supermarkets, and the cut-off times for ticket sales can vary, usually closing one to two hours before the drawing. In Ohio, tickets can also be purchased online through the Ohio Lottery website.
How Much Does a Powerball Ticket Cost?
A single Powerball ticket costs $2, with the option to add Power Play for an additional $1 to multiply non-jackpot winnings. Players can also opt for the Double Play feature for another $1, giving them a second chance to win up to $10 million.
The Largest Powerball Jackpots in History
While this latest win is one of the most significant in Powerball history, here are the top 10 largest jackpots to date:
- $2.04 billion: Nov. 7, 2022 (California)
- $1.82 billion: Dec. 24, 2025 (Arkansas)
- $1.787 billion: Sept. 6, 2025 (Missouri and Texas)
- $1.765 billion: Oct. 11, 2023 (California)
- $1.586 billion: Jan. 13, 2016 (California, Florida, Tennessee)
- $1.326 billion: April 6, 2024 (Oregon)
- $1.08 billion: July 19, 2023 (California)
- $842.41 million: Jan. 1, 2024 (Michigan)
- $768.4 million: March 27, 2019 (Wisconsin)
- $758.7 million: Aug. 23, 2017 (Massachusetts)
How to Play the Powerball
To participate in the Powerball lottery, players select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, plus one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. Players can either pick their own numbers or opt for the lottery terminal to randomly generate a selection.
Powerball offers nine ways to win, ranging from matching the Powerball number for a smaller prize to hitting the jackpot by matching all five white balls plus the Powerball.
