Additional Coverage:
- Powerball winner who hit $1.8 billion jackpot bought the ticket from an unlikely place (marketrealist.com)
Local Gas Station Sells Second-Largest Powerball Ticket in US History: Winner Yet to Claim $1.8 Billion Prize
While many Americans are kicking off 2026 with financial jitters due to rising costs and accumulating debt, one lucky individual is starting the year with an unprecedented windfall. On December 30, Powerball officials announced a single winning ticket from the Christmas Eve drawing matched all five numbers and the Powerball, securing a staggering $1.817 billion jackpot.
This monumental win marks the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history. The winning ticket, surprisingly purchased at a gas station, remains unclaimed.
The Christmas Eve Powerball, initially projected at $1.7 billion, saw a surge in final ticket sales, ultimately pushing the prize to its historic height.
Alejandra Barron, a spokesperson for Murphy USA, confirmed to local news station Wane15 that a message was left at the store on Friday, though no return call has been received. Barron noted the busy nature of stores during this period, with numerous shoppers purchasing Powerball tickets.
This isn’t the first time a major jackpot-winning ticket has been sold at a Murphy USA location. Last year, an $800 million Mega Millions ticket was also bought at a Murphy Express in Sugar Land, Texas, according to Barron.
Cabot Mayor Ken Kincade shared with the publication that the entire community was abuzz with the news on New Year’s Eve. “It’s all over Facebook, Twitter.
Everyone’s talking about it and wants to know who it is,” Kincade stated. However, he acknowledged that the gas station’s proximity to an interstate means the winner could potentially be from out of town.
“I hope it’s a citizen from Cabot, of course. That would be wonderful,” Kincade added.
The fortunate winner has a 180-day window, or six months, to claim their prize. They have the option of receiving the annuitized sum of $1.817 billion or a pre-tax lump sum payment of $834.9 million.
Proceeds from the lottery are subject to Arkansas’s individual income tax, which carries a top rate of 3.9%. Should the winner opt for the lump sum, they would owe over $32 million in state taxes.
Under Arkansas law, lottery winners of more than $500,000 can request to remain anonymous for up to three years. However, if the winner is an elected official or a close relative, this period is limited to six months.
The Murphy USA 7879 store will also receive a $50,000 retailer commission for selling the winning ticket. Furthermore, proceeds from Powerball ticket sales contribute to funding Arkansas student scholarships.