MANAHAWKIN – A lucky lottery player in Southern Ocean County is ending the holidays with an extra $50,000 in their pocket, even as the massive Powerball jackpot was claimed elsewhere.
New Jersey Lottery officials said a Powerball ticket sold at the Walmart in Manahawkin matched four white balls and the Powerball during the Christmas Eve drawing, earning a $50,000 prize. The Manahawkin ticket was one of eight sold statewide to win that prize tier.
The winning numbers were part of a historic drawing that produced a staggering $1.817 billion jackpot, which was won by a single ticket holder in Arkansas. The prize ranks as the second-largest lottery jackpot in United States history, according to lottery officials. The winner’s cash option was valued at $834.9 million.
The latest jackpot run also set a Powerball record, stretching across 47 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner. That streak began after players in Missouri and Texas split a $1.8 billion prize on September 6.
While New Jersey did not produce the jackpot winner this time, the state still saw significant success during the run. Officials said 81 New Jersey tickets won prizes of $50,000 or more over the course of the streak, including one $2 million winner, five $1 million winners, one $500,000 ticket, four $200,000 prizes and four $100,000 wins.
Lottery officials continue to remind players to sign their tickets and check all numbers carefully.
