Personal Finance
Iredell County Woman Turns $30 Gamble Into $1M Lottery Win
After taxes, she took home less than $500,000 after opting for the lump sum instead of $50,000 a year for 20 years.
IRDELL COUNTY, NC — Kelly Wyatt of Statesville tried her luck on a $30 scratch-off and won a $1 million prize.
Wyatt bought the lucky Millionaire Maker ticket from Fast Phil’s on Mocksville Highway in Statesville according to lottery officials.
When Wyatt arrived at lottery headquarters Monday to collect her prize, she had a decision to make. She could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000. She chose the lump-sum amount of $600,000 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $426,069.
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The Millionaire Maker game launched in March 2021. Wyatt became the 25th person to win one of the $1 million prizes.
Ticket sales from scratch-off games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $900 million per year for education.
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For details on how $10.6 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Iredell County in 2021, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.
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