$2 ticket turns into $1 million win for North Carolina lottery player, officials say
A lucky lottery player in North Carolina is proof that dreams do come true after winning $1 million playing Mega Millions.
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NC Education Lottery officials said Friday that Peter Eckel, of Asheville, North Carolina, tried his luck on a $2 ticket and won.
Eckel bought his lucky ticket for the April 23 drawing from Enmarket on Tunnel Road in Asheville.
His ticket matched all five white balls to win the $1 million prize. The odds of that win are 1 in 12.6 million, officials said.
He arrived at lottery headquarters Thursday to claim his prize and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, he took home $715,001.
The jackpot for Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is $522 million as an annuity or $241.4 million in cash.
The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302 million.