Winning a Mega Millions jackpot leaves SC man in disbelief. ‘This cannot be real.’
A Pee Dee man couldn’t believe that he had bought a winning Mega Millions ticket, according to South Carolina Education Lottery officials.
After seeing the results of a drawing the man struggled to get any sleep as he wondered if he’d really won $1 million playing Mega Millions, officials said Thursday in a news release.
“I was in disbelief,” the winner said in the release. “Is this real? This cannot be real.”
But it was, and the light of day didn’t change the fact that he had captured a seven-figure jackpot.
Even after the man had a family member drive him to the lottery claims center in Columbia to collect his winnings the next day, he was still having a hard time accepting the big prize was his, officials said.
“When they handed me the check, I was still in disbelief,” he said.
The $1 million winning ticket was purchased at the Food Lion at 110 Highway 9 East in Longs, according to the release.
The South Carolina man made the purchase while grabbing some coffee creamer at the Pee Dee area grocery store, officials said. The doubting began after the 11 p.m. drawing on Aug. 27 when the man saw his game matched the first five numbers drawn, and only a missing Megaball number prevented him from winning the game’s $582 million grand prize.
The winning numbers from the Aug. 27 Mega Millions drawing were 16, 18, 21, 54, 65 and Megaball: 5.
The odds of matching all five white balls are 1-in-12,607,306, according to the release.
The winner told officials that he’s made one big purchase with his newfound windfall — a new car. There was no word on his plans for the rest of the jackpot.
The winner will be allowed to retain some privacy, as South Carolina is one of 11 states — along with Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas and Virginia — that allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.
The Food Lion supermarket received a commission of $10,000 for selling the claimed ticket, according to the release.
Because there was no grand prize winner Tuesday, the jackpot for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing has risen to $229 million.
Tickets are $2, and could cost more with additional options.
The odds of winning Mega Million’s grand prize are 1-in-302,575,350.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
