The mysterious winner of the historic $1.82 billion Powerball jackpot drawing on Christmas Eve has been unmasked as the younger brother of an Arkansas mayor who was under investigation for assault earlier this year.
Tracy Hartwick, whose brother Terry Hartwick is serving his third term as North Little Rock mayor, claimed the second-largest Powerball jackpot in history, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Thursday.
The younger Hartwick played a $30 quick play ticket for the Dec. 24, 2025 drawing at the Murphy USA store and gas station in Cabot, Arkansas.
Hartwick, who played the Power Play option, purchased 10 combinations but only needed his first line to match the winning numbers of 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 and the Powerball 19.
He remained anonymous when he claimed the prize on January 5 and chose the one-time cash option of $834.9 million.
Hartwick took 94% of the winnings, totaling $565 million, and forfeited $219 million to the IRS and the Arkansas Department of Finance
Hartwick’s identity could only remain confidential for six months since he is the sibling of an elected official, according to Arkansas Act 889 of 2021.
Lottery winners not related to public office holders can remain anonymous for up to three years in Arkansas, the act states.
Hartwick’s other brother, Timothy, received 3 percent of the remaining $18.1 million, with a third, unidentified non-relative taking home the rest, according to the outlet.
Tracy Hartwick first served as mayor of North Little Rock from 1985 to 1988 before losing the Democratic primary, then became the CEO of the city’s chamber of commerce and later worked for the parks and recreation department, according to KATV.
He was reelected to office in 2020 and ran unopposed in 2024 to win his third term in City Hall.
Mayor Hartwick was accused of inappropriately touching two teenage girls after a high school choir Christmas performance, around the same time his brother won the lottery, according to KARK.
No charges were brought against the 77-year-old after investigators found no evidence supported bringing a criminal case against Hartwick.
“For any of the sexual offenses to apply, the State would have to present evidence that the contact was for the purpose of the Mayor’s sexual gratification. As with a charge under Harassment, the proof of this element is lacking, which is fatal to any prosecution under Sexual Assault 2nd [degree],” Arkansas Special Prosecutor Robbie Jones wrote in a letter back in April, the outlet reported.
During his first term in office, Hartwick was under investigation for accepting free vacations, trips to the World Series and Orange Bowl and being paid by contractors doing work in the city, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
He also had an affair with a University of Arkansas majorette who was 16 years younger in 1986, making $800 worth of city-funded phone calls to her while he was still married, the outlet reported.
The mayor married the woman within a year of his first divorce, had a child together and later divorced, according to the outlet.
The mayor’s office did not comment on his brother’s lottery win, according to THV11.
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