US 'Powerball' Lottery Winner Scoops $1.8 Billion Jackpot

Updated: Friday, December 26, 2025, 8:32 [IST]

Christmas will never be the same again for one lucky winner from Arkansas

So many people look forward to Christmas every year: whether for the time off from work, the good food, or the presents.

AI Summary

AI-generated summary, reviewed by editors

A lottery winner from Arkansas, USA, won $1.8 billion (around €1.5 billion) in the Powerball lottery on Christmas Eve by picking the numbers 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, and bonus Powerball 19. The jackpot, the second-largest in US history, accumulated over 46 draws, and the winner can receive the prize in installments over 30 years or an immediate $834.9 million payment, with taxes deducted. The largest jackpot in US history was $2.04 billion, won in California in November 2022.

One person from the US state of Arkansas has been given a gift for Christmas that they will never forget — and it will certainly change their life.

The most expensive gift of the year wasn't delivered by Santa Claus, but the "Powerball" lottery in in the US.

The lucky winner is set to pocket $1.8 billion (around €1.5 billion). And all she had to do is pick the numbers 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, and the bonus "Powerball" 19.

Six numbers to the 'Powerball' billions

Picking the right six numbers might sound easy but it's not. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292 million, read: extremely slim.

Christmas Eve's jackpot grew to become the second-largest lottery prize in US history because it had not been won for the past 46 consecutive draws.

"Powerball" is a lottery that can be played in 45 US states, the capital Washington DC, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Players select five numbers between 1 and 69 and a so-called "Powerball" number between 1 and 26.

Lottery winnings are lower in Germany

In Germany, individual winners cannot win as much money in the lottery. The biggest jackpot is in the "Eurojackpot." To win that, players have to select five numbers from 1 to 50 and two so-called "Euro numbers" from 1 to 12. The maximum win is limited to €120 million.

If the jackpot exceeds this amount, winners in the smaller prize categories receive higher winnings instead, for example, if someone has all five numbers but only one Euro number.

Not the biggest jackpot in history

The "Powerball" winner in the US won't receive the money all at once, but must choose between two options. Either the entire prize is paid out, but in installments over 30 years. Or a smaller one-off payment of $834.9 million immediately. Taxes are also deducted.

As incredibly big as this latest win is, it was not the highest jackpot win in US history. That was won in November 2022 in the US state of California — and amounted to a whopping $2.04 billion.

Source: DW