The mysterious winner of the historic $1.82 billion Powerball jackpot drawing on Christmas Eve has been unmasked because the youthful brother of an Arkansas mayor who was beneath investigation for assault earlier this 12 months.
Tracy Hartwick, whose brother Terry Hartwick is serving his third time period as North Little Rock mayor, claimed the second-largest Powerball jackpot in historical past, based on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Thursday.
The youthful Hartwick performed a $30 fast play ticket for the Dec. 24, 2025 drawing on the Murphy USA retailer and gasoline station in Cabot, Arkansas.
Hartwick, who performed the Energy Play choice, bought 10 combos however solely wanted his first line to match the successful numbers of 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 and the Powerball 19.
He remained nameless when he claimed the prize on January 5 and selected the one-time money choice of $834.9 million.
Hartwick took 94% of the winnings, totaling $565 million, and forfeited $219 million to the IRS and the Arkansas Division of Finance
Hartwick’s id might solely stay confidential for six months since he’s the sibling of an elected official, based on Arkansas Act 889 of 2021.
Lottery winners not associated to public workplace holders can stay nameless for as much as three years in Arkansas, the act states.
Hartwick’s different brother, Timothy, acquired 3 p.c of the remaining $18.1 million, with a 3rd, unidentified non-relative taking house the remainder, based on the outlet.
Tracy Hartwick first served as mayor of North Little Rock from 1985 to 1988 earlier than dropping the Democratic major, then grew to become the CEO of town’s chamber of commerce and later labored for the parks and recreation division, based on KATV.
He was reelected to workplace in 2020 and ran unopposed in 2024 to win his third time period in Metropolis Corridor.
Mayor Hartwick was accused of inappropriately touching two teenage women after a highschool choir Christmas efficiency, across the identical time his brother received the lottery, based on KARK.
No costs have been introduced in opposition to the 77-year-old after investigators discovered no proof supported bringing a prison case in opposition to Hartwick.
“For any of the sexual offenses to use, the State must current proof that the contact was for the aim of the Mayor’s sexual gratification. As with a cost beneath Harassment, the proof of this factor is missing, which is deadly to any prosecution beneath Sexual Assault 2nd [degree],” Arkansas Particular Prosecutor Robbie Jones wrote in a letter again in April, the outlet reported.
Throughout his first time period in workplace, Hartwick was beneath investigation for accepting free holidays, journeys to the World Sequence and Orange Bowl and being paid by contractors doing work within the metropolis, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
He additionally had an affair with a College of Arkansas majorette who was 16 years youthful in 1986, making $800 value of city-funded cellphone calls to her whereas he was nonetheless married, the outlet reported.
The mayor married the lady inside a 12 months of his first divorce, had a toddler collectively and later divorced, based on the outlet.
The mayor’s workplace didn’t touch upon his brother’s lottery win, based on THV11.
