For Charles Rollins of Whitwell, Tenn., a work trip to North Carolina turned into a $1 million win.
Rollins was working on a construction project when he stopped by the Pinedale Food Mart on N.C. 55 East in New Bern.
“I was just going to get a Powerball ticket,” Rollins said. “But I decided to get an Ultimate Millions ticket as well.”
When he scratched the $30 ticket, he couldn’t believe what he saw.
“I was in shock,” Rollins said. “It took me thirty minutes just to drive down the street.”
Rollins claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of taking a $1 million annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum and after federal and state tax withholdings received $415,509. He plans to use the money to pay off his house.
Two top prizes of $10 million and four $1 million prizes remain to be won instantly. Players can also enter their tickets online into a second-chance drawing for $1 million.
Ticket sales from games like Ultimate Millions made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state last year. For details on how all 100 counties in North Carolina are benefiting, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.