$1.817 billion Powerball jackpot after taxes
$1.817 billion Powerball jackpot, drawn December 24, 2025, won in Arkansas.
The winner would keep about
$495.1 million in cash in Arkansas under 2026 rules
Four hundred ninety-five million one hundred forty-five thousand seven hundred and 00/100 dollars
| Item | Amount | Share of jackpot |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised jackpotSum of 30 annuity payments | $1,817,000,000 | |
| Cash optionOfficial cash value | $834,900,000 | |
| Federal tax withheld at claim24% of the prize | −$200,376,000 | |
| Federal tax still owed at filingTop bracket is 37% | −$108,487,000 | |
| Arkansas state tax3.7% of the prize; $30.9 million withheld at claim | −$30,891,300 | |
| You keep27.3% of the advertised jackpot | $495,145,700 |
Then and now
| Winning state | Tax rules at the time | 2026 rules |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | not available | $495.1 million |
"At the time" applies the top federal rate and the winning state's top rate in the year of the drawing to the cash value, where both are sourced. 2026 figures use the full calculation described in the methodology.
The winner chose the cash option.
Christmas Eve drawing. Ticket sold at Murphy USA, Cabot, Arkansas. Winner claimed through the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and took the lump sum. Second-largest US jackpot. It came out after the AP top-10 list, so it moves the old #2 to #10 down one place each.
Annuity under today's rules
30 payments from $16.3 million to $66.8 million after tax
| Payment | Year | Before tax | Federal | State | After tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 | $27,348,458 | −$10,068,930 | −$1,011,893 | $16,267,635 |
| 2 | 2027 | $28,715,880 | −$10,574,876 | −$1,062,488 | $17,078,517 |
| 3 | 2028 | $30,151,674 | −$11,106,120 | −$1,115,612 | $17,929,943 |
| 4 | 2029 | $31,659,258 | −$11,663,926 | −$1,171,393 | $18,823,940 |
| 5 | 2030 | $33,242,221 | −$12,249,622 | −$1,229,962 | $19,762,637 |
| 6 | 2031 | $34,904,332 | −$12,864,603 | −$1,291,460 | $20,748,269 |
| 7 | 2032 | $36,649,549 | −$13,510,333 | −$1,356,033 | $21,783,182 |
| 8 | 2033 | $38,482,026 | −$14,188,350 | −$1,423,835 | $22,869,841 |
| 9 | 2034 | $40,406,127 | −$14,900,267 | −$1,495,027 | $24,010,833 |
| 10 | 2035 | $42,426,434 | −$15,647,781 | −$1,569,778 | $25,208,875 |
| 11 | 2036 | $44,547,756 | −$16,432,670 | −$1,648,267 | $26,466,819 |
| 12 | 2037 | $46,775,143 | −$17,256,803 | −$1,730,680 | $27,787,660 |
| 13 | 2038 | $49,113,900 | −$18,122,143 | −$1,817,214 | $29,174,543 |
| 14 | 2039 | $51,569,596 | −$19,030,751 | −$1,908,075 | $30,630,770 |
| 15 | 2040 | $54,148,075 | −$19,984,788 | −$2,003,479 | $32,159,808 |
| 16 | 2041 | $56,855,479 | −$20,986,527 | −$2,103,653 | $33,765,299 |
| 17 | 2042 | $59,698,253 | −$22,038,354 | −$2,208,835 | $35,451,064 |
| 18 | 2043 | $62,683,166 | −$23,142,772 | −$2,319,277 | $37,221,117 |
| 19 | 2044 | $65,817,324 | −$24,302,410 | −$2,435,241 | $39,079,673 |
| 20 | 2045 | $69,108,190 | −$25,520,031 | −$2,557,003 | $41,031,156 |
| 21 | 2046 | $72,563,600 | −$26,798,532 | −$2,684,853 | $43,080,214 |
| 22 | 2047 | $76,191,780 | −$28,140,959 | −$2,819,096 | $45,231,725 |
| 23 | 2048 | $80,001,369 | −$29,550,507 | −$2,960,051 | $47,490,811 |
| 24 | 2049 | $84,001,437 | −$31,030,532 | −$3,108,053 | $49,862,852 |
| 25 | 2050 | $88,201,509 | −$32,584,559 | −$3,263,456 | $52,353,495 |
| 26 | 2051 | $92,611,584 | −$34,216,286 | −$3,426,629 | $54,968,669 |
| 27 | 2052 | $97,242,164 | −$35,929,601 | −$3,597,960 | $57,714,603 |
| 28 | 2053 | $102,104,272 | −$37,728,581 | −$3,777,858 | $60,597,833 |
| 29 | 2054 | $107,209,485 | −$39,617,510 | −$3,966,751 | $63,625,225 |
| 30 | 2055 | $112,569,960 | −$41,600,885 | −$4,165,089 | $66,803,986 |
| Total | $1,817,000,000 | −$670,790,007 | −$67,229,000 | $1,078,980,993 | |
Questions
How much did the $1.817 billion Powerball winner take home?
The cash value was $834.9 million. Under 2026 rules a single winner in Arkansas would keep about $495.1 million after federal and state taxes; the winner chose the cash option.
Where was the $1.817 billion Powerball ticket sold?
Arkansas.
These figures describe the taxes on a prize that has already been won; they are not a reason to buy a ticket. Jackpot odds are hundreds of millions to one. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (National Problem Gambling Helpline, 24/7).
Sources for this page
- $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot won in Arkansas (powerball.com) (checked Sep 26, 2026)
- Arkansas Powerball winner claims record $1.817 billion jackpot prize, chooses cash option (Fox Business) (checked Sep 26, 2026)
- Powerball winner for $1.817 billion jackpot bought lucky ticket in Arkansas (CBS News) (checked Sep 26, 2026)
- IRS: 2026 inflation adjustments (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) (checked Sep 26, 2026)
- IRS Publication 505: withholding on gambling winnings (checked Sep 26, 2026)
Figures are estimates for planning, not tax or legal advice. How they are calculated: methodology. Read the disclaimer.