Like many others in North Carolina, Brenda Jordan of Henderson dreams of winning the record $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot, but luck came early for Jordan in the form of a $1 million scratch-off prize.
Her good fortune happened Monday morning when she went to Kittrell Grocery on U.S.1 Bypass South in Kittrell.
“I stopped to get some Mega Millions tickets because the jackpot is so high,” said Jordan, a mother of four. “I always like to try the new games, so I got a scratch-off ticket as well.”
She scratched the $150 Million Cash Explosion ticket in the store and became the game’s first $1 million winner.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Jordan said. “All I could think was, ‘Wow!’ I immediately called my four children. They didn’t believe me until they saw the ticket.”
A few hours later, Jordan with her children in tow drove to lottery headquarters in Raleigh to claim the prize. She had the choice of taking an annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. She chose the lump sum. After required state and federal tax withholdings, she took home $423,012. She plans to use some of the money to help her four children, but she also plans to treat herself.
“I’m going to take a few days off of work and go to Atlantic City,” Jordan said. “I enjoyed it the first time I went and would love to go back.”
Jordan says she hopes this isn’t her last big win.
“I’m going to try to win the Mega Millions,” Jordan said. “Don’t be surprised if you see me back here in a few days.”
This is the second time in a week that someone buying Mega Millions tickets walked away with a $1 million scratch-off prize.
The Mega Millions jackpot for Tuesday’s drawing is $1.6 billion annuity worth $904.9 million cash. This is the largest Mega Millions jackpot on record, and the largest jackpot in U.S. history.
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