2018 was a whirlwind year here at the lottery, and especially for our players. Did you know, players won 63 prizes of $1 million or more? That includes six $4 million prizes, one $5 million prize, and one $10 million prize. That’s a lot of good luck.
The best part of working at the lottery is meeting you. We get to share in your excitement and hear some incredible stories. As we wrap up the year and look forward to 2019, we want to share our top 10 winner stories.
#10: Raleigh couple become first big Keno winners
Patricia and Barry Forrest of Raleigh became our first big Keno winners. In June, the couple won $100,000 playing the draw game.
“It was exciting!” Barry said. “It took two days for it to feel real.”
They plan to spend the money on their four grandkids.
#9: Bar of soap leads Fayetteville mom to $200,000 prize
We can all be forgetful at times, and for Doralee Preston-Price of Fayetteville, it turned out to be a lucky thing. In November, Preston-Price forgot to get soap while she was shopping. When she went back into the store, she bought a Mega Bucks scratch-off ticket and won $200,000.
“It feels amazing to win,” Preston-Price said. “It’s unbelievable.”
She plans to use some of the money to take her husband and ten-year-old son on a Disney cruise.
#8: $250,000 win means Knightdale man can finally get married
Fredrick Richardson of Knightdale said he plans to make his dream of getting married come true after he won $250,000. The cook’s good fortune happened in July when he bought a Hit $500 scratch-off ticket.
“When I showed my girlfriend, she started crying,” Richardson said. “The first thing she said was, ‘We can finally get married.’”
#7: Hurricane victims start over with Cash 5 jackpot
Hurricane victims Patricia and Frank Raffa of Arden can rebuild thanks to a $325,004 Cash 5 jackpot. They were living in the Virgin Islands until Hurricane Irma destroyed their home. They lost everything and moved to North Carolina to be with their daughter. In August, they bought a winning Cash 5 ticket.
“This is a miracle,” Patrica said. “This is going to let us get a new home and pick up the pieces.”
#6 Veteran takes wife on anniversary cruise with $100,000 prize
Michael Harlow of Stanley plans to take his wife of 33 years on an anniversary cruise after he won $100,000 in December on a Big Money Playbook.
“It’s not just a chance to celebrate,” said Harlow, a Marine veteran. “My wife is battling breast cancer right now, and having something to look forward to will help her get through the chemo treatments.”
#5: Veteran wins big twice
A Charlotte Air Force veteran ran into some good luck, not once, but twice! In February, Michael Buinicky won $100,000 playing 100X The Cash. He won big again in March when he bought a Jumbo Bucks ticket and won $750,000.
“I can’t believe how lucky I am,” Buinicky said. “It’s really surreal.”
He plans to use the prize money to help his son with school and help his daughter buy her first home.
#4: Craving for teriyaki chicken wings turns into $1 million win
You might remember Sayanna Bragg of Durham. In February, she won $1 million when she stopped to get teriyaki chicken wings and bought a Million Dollar Fever scratch-off ticket.
“When I saw what it was, I cried tears of joy,” Bragg said. “I jumped out of the car and ran back into the store yelling, ‘I did it! I hit $1 million!’”
She plans to use some of the winnings to visit her family in Jamaica.
#3: School bus driver wins $2 million Powerball prize
In October, Laura Medlin of Concord won a $2 million Powerball prize. The school bus driver was in shock when she saw the winning numbers.
“I couldn’t speak when I found out,” Medlin said. “I kept telling myself, ‘Don’t pass out. Don’t pass out.’”
Medlin plans to use the money to get a new house and go back to school. She wants to become a special education teacher.
#2: Mom’s advice leads to $4 million win
Shelby Tripp of Stokes won $4 million by listening to her mom. In November, Tripp’s mother told her she should buy a lottery ticket. Tripp followed her advice and bought a $150 Million Cash Explosion scratch-off ticket.
“I ran around the house pacing and screaming for at least thirty minutes when I realized I won,” Tripp said.
Tripp plans to use some of the money to redecorate her mom’s house.
#1: Restaurant owner has $10 million helping of good luck
Howard Smith III of Belmont won $10 million in June when he bought an Extreme Millions ticket while he was running errands. He said he was so shocked he couldn’t drive home. He plans to set up a trust fund for his three children.
Congratulations to all of our winners this year. Here’s to a lucky 2019. We can’t wait to meet everyone who finds some good fortune next year.
Login to leave a comment.
Congratulations to all the people that won in 2018. It's about having fun and if you can't then let others enjoy it.