Everett Harris of Durham took advantage of a lucky streak Monday to win the first $8 million prize in a new lottery game.
“I was just on a roll,” he said. “Every ticket seemed to be a winner.”
Harris bought his lucky $8 Million Money Maker ticket from Tommy’s Mini Mart on South Miami Boulevard in Durham.
“I really didn’t believe what I was seeing,” he recalled. “I hit the big one.”
When Harris arrived at lottery headquarters Tuesday to collect his winnings, he had a decision to make. He could choose to receive his prize as an annuity of $400,000 a year over 20 years or a lump sum of $4.8 million. He chose the lump sum of $4.8 million and, after state and federal tax withholdings, took home $3,444,014.
“It’s all luck and it was my lucky day yesterday,” Harris said.
He plans to use his winnings to buy a new truck, work on his house, and pay some bills.
The $8 Million Money Maker game debuted in December with five top prizes of $8 million and 10 prizes of $100,000. Tickets cost $50 each. Four $8 million prizes and nine $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.
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If he had chosen the annuity, could it have been passed down to his heirs if he passed before the 20yrs were up?