Jonathan Craver of Stoneville strolled through the aisles of Walmart on Tuesday attempting to process what just happened after winning the first $5 million top prize in a scratch-off game.
“I was walking through the store scratching it then I stopped and was like, ‘That can’t be, there’s no way,’” Craver recalled. “It didn’t really register when I saw the word ‘million.’”
Craver bought his lucky $30 200X The Cash ticket from the Walmart on Battleground Avenue in Greensboro.
“I’m still pinching myself,” Craver laughed. “Nothing like that has ever happened to us.”
When the win finally started to sink in, he found his fiancé in another part of the store and told her the good news.
“We have been on cloud nine ever since,” Craver said.
When Craver arrived at lottery headquarters Wednesday to collect his winnings, he had a decision to make. He could choose to receive his prize as an annuity of $250,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $3 million. He chose the lump sum of $3 million and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $2,160,298.
He plans to use his winnings to buy some land and take care of his family.
The 200X The Cash game debuted in November with three top prizes of $5 million and six $100,000 prizes. Two $5 million prizes and three $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.
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