By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-07-20 00:51:41 | Updated at 2026-08-05 09:23:57
2 weeks ago
The winner of the historic $2 billion Powerball jackpot has been identified as the brother of an Arkansas mayor who previously made headlines after he was accused of inappropriate behavior at a high school choir concert.
Tracy Hartwick was named as the winner of a $1.8 billion jackpot ticket bought at a Murphy USA gas station in Cabot, purchased on Christmas Eve of last year, according to Arkansas lottery records.
Tracy's lucky ticket made history as the second-largest win in Powerball history, following Californian Edwin Castro's massive $2.040 billion win in 2022.
Tracy's brother is North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick, who served as the city's leader from 1985 to 1988 and then again in 2020.
Terry ran unopposed and was re-elected in 2024. However, controversy came in his second term when he was accused of inappropriate behavior at a local concert and awarding a contract to his brother's unlicensed heating and air conditioning company.
Special Prosecuting Attorney Robbie Jones investigated the choir concert incident and decided not to file charges against the mayor.
His brother is now making headlines for the historic Powerball win. Tracy opted to take the payment as a lump-sum and walked away with $834.9 million, according to the Arkansas Lottery.
Tracy decided to remain anonymous and the Arkansas Lottery did not release his identity when his win was announced.
North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick's brother, Tracy, has been revealed as the $1.8 billion Powerball winner
Tracy won the second-largest Powerball jackpot in January after purchasing the lucky ticket on Christmas Eve
Terry previously served as the mayor in the 90s before running again in 2020. He was re-elected in 2024 after running unopposed and is pictured above with residents in 2023 after a tornado hit the town
Arkansas allows lottery winners to remain anonymous for three years after their win. However, elected officials and immediate family have to reveal their identities within six months.
Lottery records show that Tracy decided to split his winnings with his other brother, Timothy and a second anonymous individual.
Tracy cashed out on $565 million in January and forfeited $219 million in taxes, while Timothy walked away with $6.9 million.
Tracy and his wife Shari are reportedly already living lavish, having purchased two new homes for $2.1 million and $1 million since their life-changing win, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
The couple's identities have been shrouded in mystery since the ticket was claimed. Arkansas House Speaker Brian Evans told the Arkansas Advocate in December that the town of Cabot could not stop speculating about the winners.
'If I go into a local grocery store, if I go into anywhere in town, someone asks me about it,' he said.
Tracy owns Hartwick Heat and Air. The company's website is still active and appears to be taking quotes.
Tracy and Terry came under fire earlier this year when the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that the HVAC company received over $81,000 from the city for contract work at the Parks and Recreation Department, which Terry ran before becoming the mayor.
The lucky ticket was purchased at a Murphy USA gas station in Cabot
Tracy and his wife Sharri have reportedly already purchased two massive homes since their lottery win. They are pictured above campaigning for Terry
Terry was accused of inappropriate behavior at a high school choir concert, but charges were not filed
When questioned on the contract, Terry told the publication: 'I think it's legal, and just because I have his last name or he has mine, he should be allowed to do business with the city if he's an approved vendor. Simple as that.'
A similar accusation was made during Terry's administration in the 90s when he awarded a contract to Timothy's pressure washer business.
Last December, the mayor was accused of 'tickling' two teen girls at a choir performance at the North Little Rock High School.
The accusations came after Terry posed with the students following a Christmas concert in December, 2025.
One student reported that the mayor put his arm around her, tickled her and kissed her on the cheek, all of which were unwanted, according to a letter written by special prosecutor Jones.
Another student reported that Terry asked her if she was ticklish in a hushed voice and kept his hand 'on her waist long after it was appropriate,' the letter added.
She said that he also brushed his hand on her backside and she broke down in tears on the bus ride home.
Tracy was just revealed as the historic winner. He remained anonymous for six months because of his relation to an elected official
Arkansas Lottery records indicate that another brother, Timothy, pictured above with his wife on social media, also claimed a portion of the winnings
After an investigation, prosecutors ruled that there was not enough evidence to file charges against the mayor.
Jones said that even if prosecutors could prove Terry's alleged behavior, 'evidence does not show that the Mayor's actions were with the purpose to harass, alarm, or annoy, ruling out any possible prosecution for Harassment.'
The Hartwicks have not publicly addressed their recent lottery winnings. A spokesperson for the mayor told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he would not be releasing a statement on the matter.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Terry and Tracy for comment.
