Jerry Hicks, a master carpenter from North Carolina, USA, stumbled upon a $20 bill outside a Speedway convenience store near Boone on October 22. Unbeknownst to him, this found money would lead to a remarkable turn of events.
Hicks decided to purchase an Extreme Cash scratch-off lottery ticket with the unexpected cash. The ticket, which he only bought after his first choice was unavailable, won him an astounding $1 million.
In a statement released by North Carolina Lottery, Hicks shared his surprise: “They actually didn’t have the ticket I was looking for, so I bought that one instead.” This unexpected choice, however, proved exceptionally lucky as he hit the jackpot. Hicks, a resident of Banner Elks, said he was thrilled to win such a life-changing prize after years of hard work.
As a lottery winner, Hicks had two options: to receive his prize as $50,000 annually over 20 years or as a one-time payment of $600,000. He opted for the lump sum and took home $429,007 after state and federal taxes. With his winnings, Hicks plans to provide support to his family and finally retire after a dedicated 56-year career as a carpenter.
When asked about his first splurge after the win, Hicks revealed, “We are going to head straight to Golden Corral and eat everything they’ve got.”
Hicks isn’t the only recent lottery winner in the region. Just two days prior, a Virginia man, George Hurt, also struck gold with a $1 million lottery ticket, after 13 years of dedicated play. His winning ticket, purchased at a Cloverdale convenience store now deemed lucky, came with odds of over one in 600,000. Like Hicks, Hurt chose the lump-sum option, walking away with $571,000 before taxes.
These unexpected wins show that sometimes, even the smallest moments of chance can lead to remarkable outcomes.
MUST READ | Iran Bans Imports, Sale, Use Of Motorola Cell Phones After Deadly Blasts
Australia's Attorney General has confirmed that Daniel Duggan, a former US Marine accused of training…
Six individuals who allegedly damaged actor Allu Arjun's residence in Hyderabad's Jubilee Hills were granted…
Kejriwal personally began the registration campaign by visiting homes across Delhi, kicking off a door-to-door…
President-elect Donald Trump has once again expressed his desire for the United States to take…
Several Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs from Delhi have approached the Delhi High Court, urging the…
With these technological advancements, Maha Kumbh 2025 is poised to become a landmark event, prioritizing…