Patricia Osborne of Taylorsville tried her luck on a $30 scratch-off and won the first $5 million top prize in the Millionaire Bucks game.
Osborne bought her lucky $30 ticket from Market Basket on N.C. 16 North in Conover.
When Osborne arrived at lottery headquarters Tuesday to collect her winnings, she had a decision to make. She could choose to receive her prize as an annuity of $250,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $3 million. She chose the lump sum of $3 million and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $2,152,508.
The Millionaire Bucks game debuted in October with four top prizes of $5 million and 10 $100,000 prizes. Three $5 million prizes and nine $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.
Alexander County received $5.4 million from money raised by the lottery to help with school renovations. For details on other ways money raised by the lottery made a difference for education programs in Alexander County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.