The Tale of the Anonymous Arkansas Powerball Jackpot Winner

In the world of lottery, few stories are as captivating as that of an unassuming individual from Arkansas who recently stepped forward to claim a whopping $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot.

The Announcement of the Winner

As announced by the Arkansas Lottery, this anonymous player was holding the only winning ticket nationwide for this enormous prize, making them an instant billionaire. The authenticity of their win was confirmed by the Arkansas Lottery itself, marking a pivotal moment in their life.

Choosing to remain under wraps, the winner opted for an $834.9 million cash option. According to an analysis by USA Mega's Powerball Jackpot, after settling all federal and state taxes, they're expected to take home roughly $493.47 million. The state of Arkansas imposes a 3.9% tax on such winnings.

The Perks and Cons of Anonymity

For now, our mysterious winner can breathe easy, away from the public glare. This is thanks to an Arkansas state law permitting winners of $500,000 or more to keep their identities confidential for up to three years. However, if the winner happens to be a public official or closely related to one, their identity will be disclosed after six months.

This individual managed to claim their astronomical prize while maintaining a remarkably low profile. "Everyone was on tenterhooks waiting for the winner to step forward," commented Sharon Strong, Executive Director of the Arkansas Lottery. "We're delighted that they took our advice and sought legal counsel and financial advice before coming forward."

The Winning Ticket and Its Impact

The winning ticket, which turned out to be a fortuitous Quick Pick, was purchased at a Murphy USA gas station located at 208 South Rockwood Drive in Cabot. It perfectly matched all six winning numbers of the Dec. 24, 2025 drawing: 4, 25, 31, 52, and 59, along with the red Powerball number, 19. The Power Play number was 2.

This win is not just a cause for celebration for the winner and Murphy USA but also signifies a positive impact on the state and its mission to raise funds for scholarships. The Lottery reports that this Powerball jackpot run generated $15.02 million in cash sales within Arkansas alone and earned retailers $768,267 in commissions. As a bonus for selling the jackpot-winning ticket, Murphy USA will receive $50,000.

A Historic Win

This victory marks the largest lottery prize ever claimed in Arkansas and the second-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history with a record of 47 consecutive drawings. The top spot still belongs to the colossal $2 billion Powerball jackpot won by California resident Edwin Castro.

This is only the second time that an Arkansas player has won the Powerball jackpot since its inception in 2010. Following this win, another lucky individual from North Carolina snagged last night's $209.3 million Powerball jackpot. Consequently, the next Powerball annuity jackpot has been reset to its starting amount of $20 million for the upcoming draw scheduled on Saturday, Jan. 24.