Identity Of $1.82 Billion Christmas Eve Powerball Jackpot Winner In Arkansas Now Known — And He Has Connections

When you win the lottery in Arkansas, you can claim your prize anonymously, but you can’t stay anonymous forever. For most people who hit the jackpot, they have a grace period of three years before they’re “unmasked.”

But if they happen to be a direct relative of an elected official, they only get six months before the public finds out they won. With the near-record Powerball jackpot that hit on Christmas Eve for a pre-tax annuity prize of $1.82 billion, that six-month rule has come into play.

The prize was claimed anonymously on Jan. 5, and the winner took the lump-sum $834.9 million pre-tax prize. Six months later, as the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported last Thursday, the period of anonymity ended, and we now know the second-biggest jackpot in Powerball history went to Tracy Hartwick — the younger brother of North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick.

There’s an air of controversy attached, but not because of anything untoward with regard to Tracy Hartwick’s purchase of the winning ticket. Rather, the controversy centers on the mayor, who was investigated for alleged inappropriate touching of underage girls right around the time of his brother’s lottery win. Ultimately, no charges were filed against the 77-year-old mayor, with investigators stating that the allegations lacked evidence to support a criminal case.

According to official records, Terry Hartwick does not own a piece of the winning Powerball ticket. Tracy Hartwick has 94% ownership. Another brother, Timothy Hartwick, owns a 3% stake. And an anonymous person — meaning someone not related to the mayor — owns the final 3%.

As the Democrat-Gazette reported, Tracy Hartwick and his wife Shari dropped hints that they were doing well financially on Feb. 3 when they closed on two new houses, one that cost $1.06 million and another that sold for $2.1 million.

According to Arkansas Scholarship Lottery records, Tracy Hartwick received a check on Jan. 20 for just over $565 million (his winnings, with taxes withheld) and Timothy Hardwick received a check for about $18 million (also with taxes withheld).

Trouble keeps finding Farthing

Slightly to the northeast of Arkansas, another lottery winner made his way into the news — again — in recent days.

Kentucky resident James Farthing was thought to have been arrested three times since winning a $167.3 million Powerball jackpot in April 2025, but that count is now up to four. A new indictment has surfaced for a Nov. 23, 2025, motor vehicle incident, in which Farthing allegedly was driving at excessive speeds when he crashed with another vehicle and fled the scene.

The indictment says Farthing was going between 103 and 117 mph in his Corvette seconds before rear-ending another vehicle at an intersection in Lexington. Farthing and a passenger then allegedly abandoned the car without providing ID or proof of insurance to the driver of the other vehicle.

The Lexington Police Department said in the indictment that Farthing demonstrated “extreme indifference to the value of human life.” He faces a felony wanton endangerment charge and a misdemeanor charge for leaving the scene of an accident, and his arraignment on these charges is scheduled for Aug. 7.