"I can't believe it!" North Carolina man hugs store clerk after winning $2 million prize

Comment #6

winterhug — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:38:04 GMT

That is true but why take a 20 year annuity when we don't know if we will around that long. Also no one knows where the money is being kept to pay out the annuity each year. If that place goes bankrupt, your money is gone. It reminds me of the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes that went bankrupt in 2025. A guy had won the 5K a Week For Life prize, 10 years ago then quit his job. He had received a check for 260K a year for the last 10 years. Now the checks have stopped coming. At the age of 6... [ More ]

Comment #5

JustMaybe — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:34:10 GMT

You have a good point.

However, the time is shorter when the payments are all equal.

But with the way PB and MM annuity are determined, increasing every year and more towards the last five years, you would need around 19 to 20 years to get to the present lump sum value option.

In those 19 to 20 years the lump sum would have grown exponentially

Comment #4

Dollybody42 — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:37:51 GMT

congrats

Am I the only only one that feel taking a lumpsum is a big rip off.......100G a year for 20 years is way better because in 8 years he would get 800G and another 12 years......better to take the payouts over the 20years

Comment #3

sully16 — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 22:59:33 GMT

Congrats Sheldon, enjoy every minute and keep handing out hugs.

Comment #2

JustMaybe — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 18:40:27 GMT

He was presented with the choice of either taking the one-time lump sum of $1.2 million or annual payments of $100,000 over 20 years and chose the lump sum. After federal and state taxes, he collected a total of $864,126.

I think it would be great if the prizes shown on scratch off tickets are the Lump Sum.

If it's 2M thats what it is then take off taxes.

Looks like everything must have an annuity version to make the prize look bigger and appealing.

Congratulations on the win Sh... [ More ]

Comment #1

Ranett — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 18:11:21 GMT

Congrats Sheldon.

"I can't believe it!" North Carolina man hugs store clerk after winning $2 million prize

Lottery Post — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:43:44 GMT

Celebration of pure joy erupts in store after prize reveal

By Kate Northrop

A North Carolina lottery winner experienced a moment of unbridled delight upon discovering his $2 million win, embracing the store clerk who sold him the ticket.

It was all smiles, hugs, and celebrations in a local convenience store when one North Carolina man discovered he had won $2 million on a lottery ticket.

Sheldon McDougald of Broadway stopped at the Circle K convenience store on Broadway Road in S... [ More ]