An 18-year-old man in North Carolina may not have a lot of experience playing the lottery, but he has already achieved something that many players older than him have yet to accomplish: winning a $2 million prize.
Donnie Leviner, of Laurinburg, has only purchased a few lottery tickets in his life, but his latest ticket landed him a massive win, according to a release from the NC Education Lottery. He recently stopped by Seads Grove Convenience in Laurel Hill where he picked up a $20 Big Cash Payout ticket.
"Something just told me to buy it," he said, adding that he "initially just went there to fill up the lawn mower."
It's a good thing the Scotland County man followed that feeling because he ended up scoring a multi-million prize from the ticket.
"I was in disbelief," he said. "I really didn't think it was true."
Leviner claimed his prize at lottery headquarters on Monday (April 29) where he had the choice of receiving his winnings as either an annuity of $100,000 over the course of 20 years or as a one time, lump sum payment of $1.2 million. He chose the latter and ended taking home an impressive $858,006 after all required state and federal tax withholdings.
According to lottery officials, he doesn't have specific plans for his prize, still deciding how to use it, but does want to "spend it wisely."