By Maria Sole Campinoti for CNN
Extreme Cash is a scratch card scheme run by North Carolina Education Lottery. Photo: North Carolina Education Lottery
When a North Carolina man headed to a convenience store on Tuesday, he had no idea luck was on his side.
Jerry Hicks, a master carpenter from Banner Elk, found a US$20 bill (NZ$33) in the parking lot of the store, he said in a news release. He spent it on a scratch-off lottery ticket - and won US$1 million.
Hicks used the money to buy an Extreme Cash scratch-off, according to the release.
"They actually didn't have the ticket I was looking for so I bought that one instead," he said.
Hicks claimed his prize on Friday at the North Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters. He chose to receive the prize as a lump sum of US$600,000 instead of as an annuity over 20 years, according to the release.
After taxes, Hicks took home US$429,007, according to the lottery.
Hicks plans to use the money to help his children and retire as a carpenter after 56 years, the release says.
But before that, Hicks wants to enjoy his win.
"We are going to head straight to [buffet restaurant] Golden Corral and eat everything they've got," he said.
- CNN