Newlywed brings home extra NC lottery ticket for his bride. It paid off big time
A North Carolina couple started married life off a lot richer.
James Trent stopped at a convenience store in Mocksville and bought a $10,000 Loaded scratch-off lottery ticket for $20, according to a release from the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Every time he plays the lottery, he brings home an extra ticket to his newlywed wife, Sandra Blackmon, the release says. And this time it paid off big time.
Her ticket won the couple $4 million, the release says.
They claimed their prize Tuesday and had the choice of a lump sum of $2.4 million or $200,000 a year for 20 years, the release says. They chose the lump sum and took home $849,003 each after taxes.
The couple told lottery officials they’re going to have their five children and eight grandchildren over to celebrate
“We want to help our children, grandchildren, and our parents,” Blackmon told lottery officials. “We have good, appreciative kids. We want to cushion them, so that it’s less stress on them.”
They’re also planning to pay off their new home.
“The house will be paid off before the first payment’s due … on April 1st,” Trent told lottery officials. “I want to do it just like my dad does. He only has an electricity and utilities payment each month. That’s it.”
Theirs was the first top prize won in the game, which launched in October, the release says. Two are left.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 7:21 PM with the headline "Newlywed brings home extra NC lottery ticket for his bride. It paid off big time."
