Brian Heitmann of Winston-Salem had “lots to celebrate” on the Fourth of July after his 100X The Cash ticket revealed a $2 million top prize.
Heitmann purchased his winning $20 ticket from the Speedway on South Stratford Road in Winston-Salem.
“I was shocked,” he said. “I thought that I was looking at something very wrong. I FaceTimed my mother and then I ran across the street to have my neighbor look at it.”
Heitmann claimed his prize Wednesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh.
He had the choice of taking an annuity of $100,000 a year for 20 years or a lump sum of $1.2 million. Heitmann chose the $1.2 million lump sum and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, took home $849,006.
As for his plans for the prize money, Heitmann has a few ideas.
“Financial security,” he said. “Possibly some sort of philanthropic work. Charities, friends, family. I’ve always been very fortunate in life, even before this, and I’ve tried to share that. This just makes me even more fortunate, so I’ll just continue down that road.”
Ticket sales from scratch-offs like 100X The Cash make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $725 million a year for education. For details on how $21 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Forsyth County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.