The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery on Thursday confirmed that Tracy L. Hartwick of Cabot is the winner of the more-than-$1.8 billion Powerball jackpot drawn on Dec. 24. Lottery documents supplied to local media show Hartwick validated the ticket on Jan. 5 after purchasing it at a Murphy USA station in Cabot.
Winner identity, prize choice and family shares
Hartwick elected to take the prize as a one-time cash payment. Lottery paperwork lists the lump-sum amount at $834,942,287.04. The documents also show how the payout was divided:
- Tracy L. Hartwick — assigned 94% of the prize.
- Timothy A. Hartwick — assigned 3%.
- An unnamed person — assigned 3%.
“He was happy for his brothers,”
— statement from a North Little Rock spokesperson on behalf of Mayor Terry Hartwick, who has not issued a personal comment.
Taxes, collections and public-records limits
Lottery records provided to media include tax and collection figures. After federal and state withholdings, the documents show a net collected amount for Tracy Hartwick of about $565 million. The paperwork lists roughly $188 million withheld for the Internal Revenue Service and about $31 million to the Arkansas Department of Finance. The two other listed winners each received approximately $18.1 million after taxes, according to the documents.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Lump-sum on paperwork | $834,942,287.04 |
| IRS withholding (approx.) | $188,000,000 |
| Arkansas withholding (approx.) | $31,000,000 |
| Net collected by Tracy Hartwick | $565,000,000 |
| Net collected by Timothy and unnamed winner (each) | $18,100,000 |
Public access and the anonymity limitation
The lottery records also include a notice referencing Act 889 of 2021, the state law that allows many lottery winners to remain anonymous for up to three years. The statute includes an exception that shortens confidentiality to six months when the winner is closely related to an elected official — including siblings. The documents indicate the winners were informed of that limitation because of Tracy Hartwick’s relation to the North Little Rock mayor.
The confirmation and related records carry implications for local government transparency and public interest because of the family connection to an elected official. North Little Rock city officials said the mayor would not comment but relayed the sentiment that he was supportive of his brothers.
Local stakes
Beyond the personal financial impact on the Hartwick family, the case underscores how state statutes on lottery winner privacy intersect with public expectations for elected officials and their families. Records released by the lottery provide verifiable figures that local reporters, residents and city watchdogs can use to assess any potential financial or contractual links between city government and family businesses.
The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery’s documentation answers longstanding questions about who held the winning ticket, the payout structure and the timing of the claim. It leaves open other questions reported elsewhere about past city payments to family-associated businesses; city finance records and prior reporting — separate from the lottery confirmation — have raised concerns that may continue to draw local scrutiny.
As state and municipal officials weigh any follow-up, the lottery confirmation establishes a clear public record of who claimed the prize and how the proceeds were allocated and taxed.
