Michael Mieszanek of Apex said he plans to use a $1 million lottery prize to save for retirement and make a dream of his wife’s come true.

“Owning a CHANEL purse has been on her bucket list for years,” Mieszanek said. “I tried to get her a used one for Christmas, but it didn’t work out. In fact, the first thing she asked me when I told her I won was, ‘Does this mean I can get a new one instead of a used one?’”

Mieszanek’s good fortune happened when he stopped during his work break to get gas at the Speedway on Trawick Road in Raleigh. While there, he got a $10 Merry & Bright scratch-off ticket.

“I just sat there in disbelief,” Mieszanek said. “When I saw that you could win $1 million, I never thought I’d be the one to win it. It’s surreal.”

Mieszanek claimed the prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of taking an annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $424,503.

Mieszanek is the first player to win a top prize since the game launched in November. One $1 million top prize remains. Players can also enter any holiday ticket, winning or non-winning, into a second-chance drawing for a chance to win $50,000. The deadline to enter is January 31.

Ticket sales from games like Merry & Bright help the lottery raise more than $650 million a year for education. For details on how $65 million in lottery funds made a difference in Wake County last year, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.