Transparency laws reveal the winner of historic $1.8-billion Powerball jackpot — and it’s the brother of the mayor of a small Arkansas city

His ticket matched all five white balls and the Powerball, making it the second-largest jackpot in Powerball history. Hartwick chose a lump-sum payout, rather than the yearly payout for 30 years that would have equalled $1.8 billion all together. He took home $834.9 million before taxes.

Although Arkansas generally allows lottery winners to remain anonymous, a state transparency law ultimately made Hartwick’s name public because he is the brother of an elected official.

The anonymity exception

Arkansas generally allows people who win lottery prizes of more than $500,000 to keep their identities private. An exception created under Act 889 of 2021 limits that confidentiality to six months for elected officials and certain close relatives, including spouses, parents, children and siblings.

Since Tracy Hartwick is the brother of the mayor, his name became public once that six-month period expired.

Disclosure rules for lottery winners vary by state. According to a count by USA Today, 19 states allow jackpot winners to keep their identities private, at least under certain circumstances. Arkansas is one of them.

Moneywise reached out to Mayor Hartwick's office for comment, but the office said he would not be providing a statement.

How the prize was divided

Hartwick played 10 different number combinations, with his first selection — 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 and Powerball 19 — proving to be the winner.