Winning Ticket Sold in Arkansas
Second-Largest Jackpot in History After 46 Consecutive Draws Without a Winner
A massive lottery winner emerged in the United States on Christmas Eve, drawing significant attention locally. After months of consecutive rollovers without a winner, the owner of a Powerball jackpot worth over 2 trillion won has finally been determined.
A citizen in New York City, USA, is holding a Powerball lottery jackpot ticket. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News.
According to foreign media reports on December 24 (local time), a first-prize winner was drawn in the U.S. Powerball lottery held that day. The jackpot for this round amounts to 1.8 billion dollars, which is approximately 2.6 trillion won. The winning ticket was confirmed to have been sold in Arkansas.
This jackpot accumulated after 46 consecutive draws without a first-prize winner since early September, causing the prize to roll over and grow. As a result, the prize reached the second-largest amount in Powerball history. The all-time record is 2.04 billion dollars, won in California in 2022, which stands as the largest lottery prize in U.S. history.
Powerball is one of the most popular lotteries across the United States. Each ticket costs 2 dollars and can be purchased in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are held three times a week: on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
To win the jackpot, a player must match all five white ball numbers drawn from 1 to 69, plus the single red Powerball number drawn from 1 to 26. The odds of meeting all these conditions are approximately 1 in 292.2 million, making it considered a "near-miraculous stroke of luck."
The winner can choose how to receive the prize money. If they opt for an annuity, they will receive the full 1.8 billion dollars spread over 29 years. Alternatively, if they choose a lump sum, they will receive about 834.9 million dollars before taxes in one payment. In practice, most winners have chosen the lump sum payment over the annuity option.
After months of rollovers that captured the attention of the entire United States, the Powerball jackpot finally found a new owner on Christmas Eve. With news of this enormous win, local reactions have described it as "the ultimate Christmas gift," and the Powerball craze is once again spreading rapidly.
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