Georgia man enjoys $8 million top prize win

March 13, 2026 Posted by NC Lottery at 2:59 PM

Saul Chavez Duran of Maysville, Ga., took a chance on a $50 scratch-off and won an $8 million top prize.

Chavez Duran works in North Carolina and bought his lucky $8 Million Money Maker ticket from D-Mart on N.C. 16 North in Denver.

When Chavez Duran arrived at lottery headquarters Friday 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 $3,456,494.

The $8 Million Money Maker game debuted in December 2024 with five top prizes of $8 million and 10 prizes of $100,000. Two $8 million prizes and four $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.

24 COMMENTS

3/25/2026 07:17 - Roger K.

Thanks for the info NCEL! Now since y'all have changed this, I can't find the past winners anymore. I used to click on winners, but it just show the past few winners. I would click on past winners, it would take me to where I could see winners from way back. It would show their name,how much they won, the ticket name and store name. I could click on the next number, and would show me all the winners, then I'll go back and click on the next number, and it would show all the winners. Now I can't find just what is posted in last month.NC Lottery
Thank you for reaching out and letting us know about this experience. We're regularly working on our website, and player feedback helps us plan for the future. We're of course always here to answer any questions we can as well, but we're grateful for the feedback you shared about how you usually view Winners on our site.

3/19/2026 11:50 - Angela P.

CONGRATULATIONS HAPPY FOR YOU ENJOY YOUR WIN

3/16/2026 09:26 - Sonya P.

Congrats!

3/16/2026 06:26 - Kecia S.

Congratulations ??????

3/16/2026 04:02 - Kathy R.

Congratulations,Spend Wisely,????????????????????

3/16/2026 11:48 - Karen M.

AMAZING Luck!! Congratulations!

3/16/2026 08:09 - Roger K.

The other 3 winners on this ticket, could post the link to these winners?NC Lottery
Hi, Roger! The winner mentioned above was the third top prize winner from this ticket. The first $8 million win was in January 2025 from a player in Durham: https://nclottery.com/NewsBlogDetails/2025/1/14/Durham-man-wins-first-8-million-top-prize-in-new-game--%E2%80%9CI-hit-the-big-one%E2%80%9D and the second win was in July 2025 from a Charlotte player: https://nclottery.com/NewsBlogDetails/2025/7/8/Charlotte-woman-gets-400000-a-year-for-20-years-as-8-million-prize.

3/15/2026 07:21 - William G.

nice

3/15/2026 03:51 - Angel C.

Congratulations I'm Next!!! ????

3/15/2026 03:25 - Toni T.

Congratulations

3/15/2026 11:34 - Pamela B.

Congratulations

3/15/2026 08:36 - Steven B.

tough decision,what a big win! no risk/no reward

3/15/2026 01:30 - Robert f.

Congratulations, I hope one day I will win the top prize!!!!!!?

3/14/2026 11:31 - angela R.

Congrats

3/14/2026 09:56 - LESLIE H.

contragulations!

3/14/2026 08:45 - Berry B.

WTG

3/14/2026 07:59 - Jeff S.

Congratulations for your win. Maybe one day I can win anything besides 14.50 or 12.50 or 3.00 on digital instant. The computer knows what you will win before you win. But in all reality never won nothing yet!!!!

3/14/2026 04:28 - john T.

@ncel does the Ncel plan on putting info on winning lottery tickets that come from a retailer or a kiosk? Seems like the kiosk machines hardly ever pay as compared to tickets from retailer , but at least I know they weren’t searched like retailers do. Bought 4 of the same scratch tickets from retailer in Newport and they weren’t even in numerical order. Super shady !!NC Lottery
Hi, John! Our players are our eyes and ears across the state! Anytime you have a concern about something that happened at a particular store that sells lottery tickets, please contact our security division immediately at 1-888-732-6235.

3/14/2026 10:30 - Paula F.

Congratulations ????

3/14/2026 09:02 - Roger K.

Congratulations on your big win! You say, two 8 million tickets left, so where was the other 3 winners from. Must have missed them.NC Lottery
Hi there, Roger! This was the third top prize win with this game, but we can share the other two $8 million wins! The first top prize win occurred in January 2025 from a player in Durham: https://nclottery.com/NewsBlogDetails/2025/1/14/Durham-man-wins-first-8-million-top-prize-in-new-game--%E2%80%9CI-hit-the-big-one%E2%80%9D and the second win was in July 2025 from a Charlotte player: https://nclottery.com/NewsBlogDetails/2025/7/8/Charlotte-woman-gets-400000-a-year-for-20-years-as-8-million-prize.

3/14/2026 01:57 - Robert B.

Congratulations ?? ??

3/13/2026 09:20 - Paula H.

Congratulations

3/13/2026 07:32 - Sparkle T.

congrats

3/13/2026 06:02 - JoAnn L.

congrats

Georgia man enjoys $8 million top prize win

March 13, 2026 Posted by NC Lottery at 2:59 PM

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