Somebody just became a Powerball billionaire — to the tune of $1.87 billion, the second-largest jackpot in Powerball history — but the winner’s name likely won’t be public anytime soon.
That’s because the winning ticket was sold in Arkansas, where state law allows temporary anonymity for lottery winners who claim prizes over $500,000, under rules tied to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
In Arkansas, the winner’s identity becomes public record after three years. However, there’s one major exception: if the winner is an elected official — or closely related to one — the confidentiality window drops to six months.
Several other states offer similar protections for lottery winners, including New Jersey, Georgia, Arizona, Maryland, Delaware and Florida, according to CNN.
The winning numbers drawn on Wednesday, Dec. 24, were 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, with a Powerball number of 19 and a Power Play® multiplier of 2, according to a release shared to the official Powerball website.
The jackpot had been climbing for months, with no top winner since September, causing the prize total to roll over — and grow — drawing after drawing.
“Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO, in the release.
He added, “We also want to thank all the players who joined in this jackpot streak — every ticket purchased helps support public programs and services across the country.”
The winner now faces the usual big decision: take the payout as 30 annual payments or opt for a one-time lump sum of $834.9 million, both before taxes. If the winner chooses the annuity, the payments increase by 5% each year, according to the same release.
This latest drawing is also a notable milestone for Arkansas. It’s only the second time a winning Powerball jackpot ticket has ever been sold in the state — the first was back in 2010.
The current Powerball record remains $2.04 billion, according to CBS News. That jackpot was won in 2022 by a player in Altadena, Calif., and remains the largest lottery prize ever claimed.
