$1.8 Billion Powerball Jackpot Won on Christmas Eve in Arkansas

A Powerball player in Arkansas has won a staggering $1.817 billion jackpot in the Christmas Eve drawing, ending a three-month streak without a top-prize winner and securing the second-largest lottery prize in US history.

The winner, who has not yet come forward, can opt for a lump-sum cash payment of $834.9 million.

This historic win follows 46 consecutive drawings with no grand prize winner, with the last jackpot being hit on September 6th.

Powerball officials celebrated the win, noting it is the first Christmas Eve jackpot since 2011 and highlighting that ticket sales support public programs across the country.

The odds of winning the grand prize remain astronomically low at 1 in 292.2 million, but the game’s smaller prizes offer better chances for players who joined in the record-breaking run.