A North Carolina man's lottery win was a long time coming after countless times confidently announcing he would score the massive prize.
Thomas Harris, of Lexington, recently scored $4 million from a $30 Supreme 7s scratch-off ticket that he purchased from Tommy's Mini Mart on West Center Street in Mebane, according to a press release from the NC Education Lottery. The huge prize was a dream come true for the Davidson County man, and one that he was certain would happen at some point.
"I always said, 'One day I'm going to get that $4 million,'" he said.
Fortunately for Harris, that time is now, but even he had a hard time realizing he finally landed the prize.
"I kept wondering if it could be real," he told lottery officials. "I had to go back and ask the owner to scan it for me."
Harris claimed his prize at lottery headquarters on Monday (October 14) where he had the choice of either receiving his win as an annuity of $200,000 over the course of 20 years or as a one time, lump sum payment of $2.4 millions. The lucky winner ended up choosing the latter and was able to take home an incredible $1,716,009 after all required state and federal tax withholdings.
Harris told lottery officials he plans to use his winnings to fix up his car as well as invest and pay bills.
According to the lottery website, the Supreme 7s game launched in July with four top prizes of $4 million as well as 10 prizes of $100,000. Following Harris' win, two of the top prizes remain to be claimed as do eight of the $100,000 prizes.