A North Carolina grandfather collapsed in disbelief after discovering his $30 scratch-off ticket was worth $1 million, lottery officials said earlier this month.
Jesse Johnson was standing in a parking lot scratching the ticket on the morning of Jan. 7 when, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery, “suddenly his feet gave out beneath him,” in a Thursday, Jan. 8, news release.
The Snow Hill resident had revealed the top prize on the “MAX-A-MILLION” scratch-off — a $1 million jackpot.
He said he-1.3nson said he “couldn’t believe it,” and the shock hit him physically, too.
“I just fell down beside my truck,” Johnson said, according to lottery officials.
After he recovered, Johnson — a grandfather of 22 — said his first thought was to share the news with his wife. But he was too overwhelmed to speak clearly.
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“I couldn’t really talk over the phone,” he said. “I was so excited.”
Looking back on the moment, Johnson said he felt luck was on his side. He bought the winning ticket from Nour Tobacco, a convenience store in Kinston, N.C.
“I guess I was just in the right place at the right time,” he said.
Johnson claimed his prize the same day. Officials said he chose the lump-sum option of $600,000 instead of $50,000 annual payments over 20 years. After taxes, he took home $432,068.
As for what comes next, Johnson said he plans to use the money to help care for his 22 grandchildren, according to lottery officials.
Lottery officials added that 16 of the 25 remaining $1 million prizes in the “MAX-A-MILLION” game — which debuted in March — are still unclaimed. Seven $100,000 prizes also remain available.
Officials also noted that Greene County, N.C. has “received state grants totaling over $50 million from monies raised by the lottery to build a new high school,” according to the news release.
