SUMMARY
- One Arkansas ticket won the $251 million Powerball jackpot.
- Lump sum cash value is $118 million before federal and state taxes.
- Jackpot resets to $20 million ahead of Wednesday’s drawing.
A single ticket sold in Arkansas matched all six numbers in Monday night’s Powerball drawing, securing a $251 million jackpot, lottery officials confirmed Tuesday. The winning numbers were 2, 17, 18, 38, 62 and Powerball 20, with a 2x Power Play.
The winner can choose between a 30 year annuity totaling $251 million or a one time cash payment of $118 million. No claim had been filed as of Tuesday morning, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association.
Since launching in 1992, Powerball has produced nearly 200 jackpot wins across 45 states, plus Puerto Rico, Washington, DC and the US Virgin Islands. Five states Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah do not participate.
Winners face a mandatory 24 percent federal withholding upfront, with the remainder due at tax filing, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Arkansas levies a state income tax, further reducing the net payout.
Carolyn Hapeman, spokesperson for the Multi-State Lottery Association, said annuity payments increase by about 5 percent annually to offset inflation.
Brad Klontz, a financial psychologist at Creighton University, said sudden wealth recipients should assemble legal and tax advisers before claiming funds. “The first decision shapes long-term financial stability,” he said.
Arkansas lottery officials said security protocols protect winner anonymity where permitted by law. A Puerto Rico ticket also won a $2 million Match 5 plus Power Play prize.
The jackpot resets to $20 million for Wednesday’s drawing at 11 PM Eastern. Officials expect heightened ticket sales following the Arkansas win.
The latest Powerball victory underscores the game’s national reach and the complex financial considerations facing multimillion dollar winners.
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