Thanks to lucky birthday numbers, Julius Stegall of Raleigh will start his 61st year with a $361,067 Cash 5 jackpot.

“I saw the No. 28 and knew I was a winner, because that’s my birthday,” Stegall said. “I can’t believe it. You never think something like this is going to happen to you. It’s an amazing birthday gift.”

Stegall beat odds of one in 749,398 to win Monday’s drawing. He discovered his win when he checked the numbers on his phone this morning.

“I just went, ‘Wow! Wow! Wow!’” Stegall said. “I had to check the numbers again just to make sure.”

He claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, Stegall took home $250,949. He plans to use some of the money to pay bills.

Stegall bought the $1 ticket at the Harris Teeter on Creedmoor Road in Raleigh.

Ticket sales from draw games like Cash 5 make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million dollars a year for education. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.