Cheeseburgers and winning lottery tickets — name a more iconic duo
By Kate Northrop
WILLOW SPRING, N.C. — A tasty meal came with a scrumptious surprise worth a mouthwatering $1 million when a North Carolina player treated himself and his best friend to lunch on Wednesday.
Kevin Poole of Franklinville decided to buy his friend a meal at a local grill this week, and after topping it off with a $1 million win from a scratch-off game, he likely had no problem fronting the check.
"The electrician I work with bought me lunch yesterday," Poole told the North Carolina Lottery. "I told him, 'Since you bought mine yesterday, I'll buy yours today.'"
While they were at Don Lee's Grocery and Grill on N.C. 50 in Willow Spring to grab a bite, Poole picked out a "$10,000,000 Colossal Cash" scratch-off ticket for $30.
"They got really good cheeseburgers," the lucky customer said. "After I finished eating my cheeseburger and onion rings, I scratched it."
It was a delectable way to end a savory meal. After scanning his ticket with the Lottery's mobile app, he was instructed to visit Lottery headquarters in Raleigh.
That same day, he claimed his prize as a lump sum of $600,000 rather than a $1 million annuity of $50,000 a year over 20 years, taking home $424,509 after federal and state taxes.
"I'm over excited now!" Poole exclaimed while collecting his winnings. "I'm building a house, and I'd like to buy more land. I want to build a motocross track for my sons to ride on."
Now that Poole claimed his prize, there are four out of 24 second prizes of $1 million left in the "$10,000,000 Colossal Cash" game. There is just one top prize of $10 million remaining out of the six originally available at the game's launch in August 2018, as well as six out of 30 third prizes of $50,000 left.
Wow you win a million, you get 400 k the lottery gets 600 k. Look who's the big winner!
I see your point, losing 40% of your jackpot before taxes just because you don't want to wait 20 years to get all your money seems a little weird when you think about it. Congratulations to Mr. Poole. That was $30 well spent.
Yes, the lottery and taxes get a share of 600K and the winner gets around 400K because the winner like most winners want the lump sum for these reasons:
Who knows if I will be around in 20 or 30 years to collect the annuity
The state might go bankrupt in that time I will not get my money
I don't care if the lottery and taxes take half my winning because it is more than I had in the first place
..so, Rcb- was that you that made off with the $1,000,000 last night? .... You lucky dog!
Congrats to the winner ! Now I'm hungry and wanting a cheeseburger...LOL
That's awesome, congratulations to him!
Hey buddy, would you like to come over and grab some lunch tomorrow? I was thinking we could go out and get a cheeseburger or something, my treat ....
Congrats Kevin, enjoy the cash and cheeseburgers.
Not me. Ticket was bought south of Fort Worth. I-35 is a mess with construction. I buy local.