Jerry Stilwell Sr. of Franklin is celebrating his good fortune after he played the Crown Jewels scratch-off game and won $1 million.
Stilwell bought the $10 ticket at the Hot Spot on East Main Street in Franklin.
He claimed his prize Friday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of taking an annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $423,009.
Crown Jewels launched in May 2018 with six top prizes of $1. Three $1 million prizes remain.
Ticket sales from games like Crown Jewels make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million a year for education. For details on how $1.7 million raised by the lottery supported education programs in Macon County last year, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website, https://www.nclottery.com.