Buyer in Arkansas wins $1.8 billion stocking stuffer in Christmas Eve Powerball drawing

Christmas miracles, sure. But is there such a thing as a Christmas Eve miracle? After Wednesday night's Powerball drawing, one winner probably believes in them.

Christmas miracles, sure. But is there such a thing as a Christmas Eve miracle? After Wednesday night's Powerball drawing, one winner probably believes in them.

A lucky person who bought a ticket in Arkansas will take home a whopping $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot, which has a cash option of $834.9 million.

The Christmas Eve prize is the second-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever won and the largest Powerball prize this year, according to a news release from the Multi-State Lottery Association.

“Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize,” Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO Matt Strawn said in the release.

Going into Wednesday night's drawing, the jackpot had grown to an estimated $1.7 billion after no winner was called Monday night.