After Donald Ledford of Canton won a $1 million scratch-off prize, he thought hard about the best way of collecting his prize, choosing in the end to receive $50,000 a year for 20 years.
“We thought for a long time about the annuity or the lump sum,” Ledford said.
In the end, Ledford said he chose the annuity after discussing the options with a financial adviser and a lawyer.
“It’s like winning $50,000 twenty times,” he said. “Now we can enjoy this for many, many years.”
Ledford chose to receive his prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years instead of a lump sum of $600,000. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $35,759 in his first of 20 payments of $50,000 and will get his last payment in 2044.
Ledford bought his lucky $30 Millionaire Maker ticket from Fastrac Food Mart on Old Leicester Highway in Asheville.
“I really didn’t believe it until I got here today,” said Ledford on Wednesday.
He said he plans to put his winnings toward paying off his house.
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