The Powerball lottery jackpot was an estimated $45 million for the Wednesday, Dec. 31 drawing with a cash option of $20.7 million, according to the Powerball website . The jackpot was last won on Dec. 24 when a lottery player in Arkansas won a $1.817 billion jackpot - the second largest ever.

A Powerball player there holds the winning ticket from Wednesday night's drawing for the game's $1.817 billion jackpot. The winner, who so far hasn't gone public, can choose between an annuitized prize of $1.817 billion or a lump sump payment of $834.9 million (both prize options are before taxes).

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Check those tickets! The numbers have been drawn for Wednesday's estimated $1.7 billion Powerball jackpot. The numbers are: 25-59-04-52-31 with a red Powerball of 19 and a 2x Power Play.

Powerball announced the winning numbers for a massive $1.817 billion jackpot on Christmas Eve — and there’s a winner!