Arkansas player claims $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot, takes $834.9M cash option

People reports an Arkansas lottery player has come forward to claim the more than $1.8 billion prize from the Dec. 24 Powerball drawing. The winner matched all five white balls and the red Powerball with the numbers 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 and red Powerball 19 and opted for the one-time $834.9 million pre-tax cash option, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery said.

Sharon Strong, executive director of the ASL, said the winner "took the time to seek legal counsel and financial advice" as recommended by lottery officials and added the lottery is proud to celebrate the moment for the Arkansas winner and for Murphy USA, the Arkansas-based company that sold the winning ticket.

Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO, congratulated the winner and called the prize "truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize," in a press release published the day after the drawing. Eight other tickets matched all five white balls and won $1 million in Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia; 114 tickets won $50,000 and 31 won $100,000.

Key Topics

Business, Powerball, Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, Murphy Usa, Sharon Strong, Matt Strawn