Elizabeth Rathburn of Candler tried her luck on a $30 scratch-off and won a $3 million prize.
Rathburn bought her lucky Fabulous Fortune ticket from Boone’s Convenience Corner on Smoky Park Highway in Candler.
When Rathburn arrived at lottery headquarters Friday to collect her prize, she had a decision to make. She could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $150,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $1.8 million. She chose the lump-sum amount of $1.8 million and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $1,278,189.
Fabulous Fortune debuted in July with six $3 million prizes and 18 $100,000 prizes. Three $3 million prizes and 12 $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.
Ticket sales from scratch-offs make it possible for the lottery to raise $2.5 million a day on average for education. For details on how $11.5 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Buncombe County in 2021, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.