Arkansas Mayor’s Brother Revealed as Winner of Historic $1.82 Billion Powerball Jackpot

The winner of the historic $1.82 billion Powerball jackpot drawn on Christmas Eve has been publicly identified as Tracy Hartwick, the younger brother of North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick, bringing an end to months of speculation surrounding one of the largest lottery prizes in U.S. history.

According to reports, Tracy Hartwick purchased the winning $30 Quick Play Powerball ticket at a Murphy USA store and gas station in Cabot, Arkansas, for the December 24, 2025 drawing. The ticket included the Power Play option and featured ten number combinations, with the very first line matching all six winning numbers: 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, and Powerball 19.

When claiming the prize on January 5, Hartwick chose the one-time lump-sum cash option instead of receiving annual payments. The cash value of the jackpot totaled $834.9 million before taxes.

After federal and state tax deductions, Hartwick reportedly received approximately $565 million, while about $219 million was paid to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Arkansas Department of Finance in taxes.

Although Hartwick initially claimed the prize anonymously, Arkansas law required his identity to be disclosed after six months because he is the sibling of an elected public official. Under Arkansas Act 889 of 2021, lottery winners who are not related to public office holders may remain anonymous for up to three years. However, relatives of elected officials are subject to a shorter confidentiality period to promote transparency.

Reports also revealed that the prize was shared with two additional beneficiaries. Hartwick retained 94 percent of the winnings, while his brother Timothy Hartwick received 3 percent of the remaining amount. Another 3 percent was awarded to an unnamed individual who is not related to the family.

The revelation has drawn renewed public attention to the Hartwick family, particularly because Mayor Terry Hartwick is a well-known political figure in Arkansas. He currently serves his third term as Mayor of North Little Rock, having previously held the office from 1985 to 1988 before returning to public service in 2020. He secured another term in 2024 after running unopposed.

Beyond his political career, Terry Hartwick has also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and later worked within the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, contributing to local government and community development over several decades.

The $1.82 billion Powerball jackpot ranks as the second-largest jackpot in Powerball history, making Tracy Hartwick one of the biggest lottery winners ever. His story highlights not only the life-changing impact of a single winning ticket but also the transparency rules that apply when major lottery winners have close ties to public office.

With his identity now officially public, Hartwick joins the exclusive list of Americans whose extraordinary lottery victories have captured national attention, turning a Christmas Eve ticket purchase into one of the most remarkable jackpot stories in recent years.