A North Carolina grandmother received an unforgettable early birthday surprise after striking it lucky in the lottery.
Janet Murray of Fayetteville won a $534,619 prize from a $1 Cash 5 ticket purchased for the Dec. 9 drawing, according to a news release from the North Carolina Education Lottery.
“I won it two days before my birthday,” Murray said.
Rather than sharing the news right away, she kept the win private for a short time. Lottery officials said Murray waited until Christmas to tell her “special people” about the life-changing moment.
“They were all excited,” she said.
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Murray officially claimed her prize on Monday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. The odds of winning the Cash 5 jackpot are 1 in 962,598.
After required federal and state tax withholdings, she took home $384,979.
When asked about her plans for the money, Murray said she intends to support her family. She plans to give some of the winnings to her children and set up an education fund for her great-grandchildren.
She’s not the only recent lottery winner focused on giving back. In November, another grandmother—who chose to remain anonymous and used the nickname “Happy Grandma”—won a $3 million prize in Illinois. She said she planned to help her son, make home improvements, buy holiday gifts, and take her grandchildren on a cruise.
“It’s like a miracle,” she said after changing up her usual lottery routine.
