Raleigh – James Lampi Jr., a contractor from Mint Hill, has been a millionaire for weeks – but didn’t realize it until Tuesday afternoon.

After driving around with a $4 million-winning $200 Million Blowout ticket in his truck since June, Lampi stopped at a local lottery retailer to have the ticket scanned.

“That ticket had lived in the console of my truck for almost a month,” Lampi said. “I knew I’d won something but I figured it was just $20, like I normally win. I didn’t even scratch off the prize amount. Then when the clerk scanned the ticket, she said I had to claim my prize at the lottery office. I thought it must be more than $500. When I scratched the rest of the ticket I couldn’t believe my eyes. The whole moment was just surreal. It still hasn’t sunk in, to be honest.”

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. Lampi chose the lump sum and received $1,662,006 after required state and federal withholdings.

“I’m going to make some investments and donate to some charities,” Lampi said. “And I may chill out at the beach for a while. For a good long while.”

Lampi beat odds of 1 in 3.2 million to win the top prize. As of Wednesday afternoon, two more $4 million prizes and 10 $1 million prizes remain to be claimed in the game. He purchased the lucky ticket at the Circle K on Lawyers Road in Charlotte.

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 were used last 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 $297 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Mecklenburg County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.