News writer, Interviewer
A lucky hunch paid off big time for Sean McIntosh of Maiden, North Carolina. A spontaneous decision to buy a $50 scratch-off ticket led him to a life-changing $10 million prize.
McIntosh laughed when he recalled this intuition to the North Carolina Lottery:
Sometimes I get a wild hair, and I listen to it.
He purchased the winning $10 Million Spectacular ticket from Jones Exxon Inc. on N.C. 16 South in Stanley, marking his first time trying a $50 scratch-off:
I actually just won $100 on a $5 ticket earlier, so I figured I'd give it a shot.
McIntosh described the experience as surreal:
Everything's been a blur since then. You buy a ticket, but you never really think something like this will happen.
Faced with the choice between a $500,000 annual annuity for 20 years or a lump sum of $6 million, McIntosh opted for the latter. After taxes, he took home a cool $4,290,014. His plans for the windfall? Investing and securing his children's future.
​There are still plenty of chances to win big with the $10 Million Spectacular game. Here are the remaining prizes:
| Prize Amount | Total Prizes | Remaining Prizes |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000,000 | 5 | 4 |
| $1,000,000 | 20 | 15 |
| $100,000 | 20 | 12 |
| $50,000 | 50 | 29 |
| $5,000 | 139 | 91 |
| $2,000 | 279 | 174 |
| $500 | 184,568 | 115,013 |
| $200 | 384,015 | 238,900 |
| $150 | 1,085,194 | 674,550 |
| $100 | 1,844,758 | 1,148,958 |
| $50 | 1,736,454 | 1,085,212 |
How to play the $10 Million Spectacular:
Here's your chance to try the $10 Million Spectacular:
- Match any of Your Numbers to any of the Winning Numbers, and you win the prize shown for that number.
- Reveal a Moneybag symbol, and you win that prize instantly.
- Reveal a 20X or 50X symbol, and multiply your prize by 20 or 50 times, respectively.
- Reveal a $500 symbol, and win $500 instantly. Reveal a "Money" symbol, and win the prize shown for that bonus spot.
If you strike it lucky with the $10 Million Spectacular, you must claim your prize within 90 calendar days from the game's announced end date. For prizes over $500,000, you can choose to receive the prize as an annuity (paid out over time) or a lump sum (one-time payment). Remember, lottery winnings are taxable.
The North Carolina Lottery
For over a decade, the North Carolina Lottery has enriched lives across the state by funding education initiatives, offering exciting games, and operating with integrity to maximize revenue for designated educational programs. Guided by values of honesty and respect, they strive to be an industry leader in education funding, all while bringing joy and innovation to the state.
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