RALEIGH – Though Jimmy Kennovin, a businessman who owns an HVAC company in Garner, has a lot of plans for the $4 million prize he won playing the lottery, he says that his daily life will remain the same.

“This gives me a fresh start,” Kennovin said as he collected his winnings. “I’m going to pay off some of my house, buy a car for my son and a boat. And I’m sure we’ll take a vacation. But outside of that, I’m going to save for retirement and go back to work.”

Kennovin is the first player to claim the top prize in the $4,000,000 Multiplier Spectacular game and the largest winner thus far in 2014. He purchased the lucky $20 ticket at the Grocery Boy Jr. on West Garner Road in Garner.

Top prize winners in the game have the choice of taking their prize in annuity payments of $200,000 for the next 20 years or they can choose a lump sum cash option of $2.4 million. Kennovin chose the lump sum option and received a check worth $1,660,806 after state and federal taxes were withheld.

Kennovin said that he plays the lottery for entertainment and he appreciates that the money he spends goes to a good cause.

“If I don’t win, I just tell people I’m supporting the teachers,” Kennovin said. “I like that the money raised by the lottery goes to education.”

Ticket sales have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $3.4 billion for the state. North Carolina Education Lottery net proceeds will be used this year to help pay salaries of teachers and teacher assistants, for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, school construction and repair, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

For details on how more than $233 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Wake County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.