Derek Gettys of Forest City is celebrating a $1 million win. His good fortune came when he bought a $5,000,000 Mega Cash ticket at the Chase Convenience Store on Chase High Road in Forest City.
He claimed his prize money Thursday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. Gettys had the choice of taking a $1 million annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $417,012.
The $20 game launched in May with three top prizes of $5 million and six prizes of $1 million. Two top prizes and four $1 million prizes remain.
Ticket sales from instant games like $5,000,000 Mega Cash make it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars a year for education. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in Rutherford County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.