RALEIGH – Ernesto Mellon Jr. of Newport is the second player to win the $4 million top prize in the 100X The Cash game. He plans to use a portion of his winnings to pay off his home and save for the future.

Mellon, a water treatment operator for 14 years, learned of his big win on Tuesday when he scratched off the lucky $20 ticket after purchasing it at Harris Teeter on U.S. 70 in Morehead City.

“I was sitting in the parking lot scratching off the ticket when I saw one of my numbers had matched,” Mellon said. “My heart started beating like crazy. To win like this feels awesome.”

A $4 million prize in the game can be claimed in 20 annuity payments of $200,000 or a one-time payment of $2.4 million. Mellon chose the lump sum and received $1,662,006 after required state and federal withholdings.

“Paying off my house is going to be a big relief,” Mellon said. “I may do some travelling. I’m definitely going to keep working, but I’m going to have a lot less stress.”

As he collected his winnings, Mellon said he appreciates what the lottery does for education in the state.

“The lottery is a great thing,” Mellon said. “Educating our youth is so important.”

Mellon beat odds of 1 in 2 million to win the top prize. As of Thursday morning, one more $4 million prize and three $1 million prizes remain to be claimed in the game.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state last year. 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 $18 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Carteret County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.