Man Wins Over $1 Million After Spending Just $1 on Lottery Ticket: ‘I’m Numb’

A Gastonia resident, Ray Walker, could hardly believe his luck after winning more than $1 million in the North Carolina Cash 5 lottery.

Walker, who lives about 25 miles west of Charlotte, purchased his $1 ticket for the Tuesday, Oct. 21, drawing at Kingsway convenience store in Gastonia, according to the North Carolina Lottery (N.C. Lottery). He opted for a “Quick Pick,” allowing the computer to randomly generate his five numbers.

Just after midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 22, Walker checked his ticket — and realized he’d hit the $1,022,795 jackpot.

“I hollered and jumped up and down. I let out a big old yell,” he said in a statement released by the N.C. Lottery. “I had to wet my face a little bit to make sure I wasn’t dreaming,” he added with a laugh.

The shock of his win still hasn’t worn off. “I only slept an hour last night. I’m numb,” Walker said. “This couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Walker claimed his prize on Oct. 22 at the N.C. Lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After federal and state taxes, he took home $733,856. He plans to save most of his winnings and possibly take a trip to Florida to visit family.

According to the N.C. Lottery, profits from lottery sales help fund education programs across North Carolina. In 2024, the lottery generated more than $1 billion for education statewide.