Johnnie Jones of Maysville tried his luck on an Extreme Cash scratch-off ticket and won the $1 million top prize.
He bought his lucky $25 ticket at Stella Grill & Variety located off N.C. 58 in Stella.
Jones claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had a choice of taking the $1 million as an annuity of $50,000 a year over 20 years, or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the annuity and after federal and state tax withholdings, took home his first payment of $35,382.
Extreme Cash launched in March with three top prizes of $1 million and 10 prizes of $100,000. One $1 million prize and five $100,000 prizes remain.
Ticket sales from scratch-off games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $700 million a year for education. For details on how money raised by the lottery made a difference in all North Carolina counties last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.