Patricia Brunson of Durham couldn’t believe her luck on Monday when a $50 scratch-off purchase won her the first $10 million prize in a new lottery game.
“I was in shock,” she said.
Brunson bought her lucky $10 Million Spectacular ticket from the Homestead Family Fare on Guess Road in Durham.
When Brunson arrived to collect her winnings, she had a decision to make. She could choose to receive her prize as an annuity of $500,000 a year over 20 years or take a lump sum of $6 million. She chose the lump sum and, after state and federal tax withholdings, took home $4,290,014.
The $10 Million Spectacular game debuted in December with five top prizes of $10 million, 20 prizes of $1 million and 20 prizes of $100,000. Four $10 million prizes, 15 $1 million prizes and 16 $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.
For details on how $13.8 million raised by the lottery made a difference for education programs in Durham County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.