RALEIGH – A $20 lottery ticket purchased at BJ’s Grocery on Rolesville Road in Wendell turned out to be worth $3 million.

David Hopkins of Middlesex and Danny Ray of Zebulon came to lottery headquarters on Friday to claim the prize money they won playing the $120 Million Cash game.

Winners of $3 million in the game can elect to claim the prize in annual payments of $150,000 for 20 years or take the one-time cash option of $1.8 million. Hopkins and Ray chose the cash option. Hopkins’ $1,620,000 share was worth $1,221,045 after state and federal taxes were withheld. Ray’s $180,000 share was worth $124,560 after required withholdings.

As of Friday, two $3 million prizes, four $1 million prizes, and many other prizes remain unclaimed in the game.

Ticket sales for games such as $120 Million Cash have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $3 billion for education programs statewide. For details on how more than $233.6 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Wake County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.