Rowan County man collects N.C.'s first million-dollar jackpot
The winning numbers on the Powerball sign looked familiar to Victor "Buddy" Poplin on Thursday morning.
He was making his usual visit to the East Side Kwik Stop convenience store, a couple blocks from home in Granite Quarry, in Rowan County. He got out his ticket and quickly learned he was North Carolina's first winner of $1 million, the biggest prize yet in the state's two-month-old lottery and one of three million-dollar lottery prizes claimed Thursday in the Carolinas.
Poplin, 66, went on to his job as a pretrial release coordinator for the county, asked for the day off and corralled a couple buddies to ride with him to Raleigh to claim his prize.
He said he had sought a little help from the Lord to pick the numbers.
"I had a little talk and prayer with him first," Poplin said, " 'Just lead me where you want me to go.' "
The numbers were based on inspirational moments in his life. Poplin spent $40 on tickets a week and a half ago for the first four Powerball drawings.
That investment won him $200,000 Wednesday night. Poplin, though, had paid an additional $1 for the Power Play option, which multiplies the winnings by a selected number, which on Wednesday night was five.
After taxes, he will receive $680,000. He's already designated 10 percent for his church, which he declined to identify, and said he has grandchildren with whom he will share, and his wife, Ann, to help him spend it.
North Carolina has participated in Powerball for less than two weeks and has racked up an impressive run of winners, boasting one of two $200,000 winners nationally on both May 31 and June 3 and three of nine winners Wednesday. A player who picks the first five numbers but not the Powerball receives $200,000.
In its first three drawings, North Carolina had the highest Powerball sales of any state and more winners in every prize category.
South Carolina on Thursday also scored a Powerball ticket worth $1 million. A group of seven dispatchers in the Greenville-Spartanburg area won $200,000 and had added a Power Play. Larry Williams of Fayetteville won $1 million on a South Carolina scratch-off ticket he claimed Thursday.
New Jersey has had many more solo Mega Millions winners, and you don't have the silly 30 year graduated annuity option (in Powerball) which reduces the cash payment considerably - I would stay put!
The 30 year annuity does NOT reduce the cash payout!The cash payout numbers have remained the same.It's the annuity payout(the advertised jackpot) that has increased.The reason is that Powerball now adjust the annuity to increase by about 4% each year to keep up with inflation.You can read about it by going to Powerball.com and read through the FAQ section.
Yes, if you have a 20 million dollar advertised jackpot with a 30-year graduated annuity (Powerball) the cash option is substantially less than a 20 million dollar advertised jackpot with a 26-year even annuity (Mega Millions). The yearly annuity in Powerball starts out so low, it's not even worth considering.
I'm moving to North Carolina.
New Jersey has had many more solo Mega Millions winners, and you don't have the silly 30 year graduated annuity option (in Powerball) which reduces the cash payment considerably - I would stay put!
Good for him!
The 30 year annuity does NOT reduce the cash payout!The cash payout numbers have remained the same.It's the annuity payout(the advertised jackpot) that has increased.The reason is that Powerball now adjust the annuity to increase by about 4% each year to keep up with inflation.You can read about it by going to Powerball.com and read through the FAQ section.
Yes, if you have a 20 million dollar advertised jackpot with a 30-year graduated annuity (Powerball) the cash option is substantially less than a 20 million dollar advertised jackpot with a 26-year even annuity (Mega Millions). The yearly annuity in Powerball starts out so low, it's not even worth considering.
As I have said before its FAIT from God wether or not your suppose to hit any jackpot But I am still truckin LMAO Hoping that he will bless me next!!
$ 68 K to the church.
Who loves ya baby ? You do Jesus !!!
DD
good for this guy.i'm really happy for him.
Good for him & I bet his grandkids are going to love him when their birthday comes around.
I am so happy for him..... Our time will come in time