‘This is just insane’ lottery winner admits following $120k jackpot – but after claiming prize she immediately lost $45k
A RECENT strategy change in playing a lottery game has resulted in a massive payday for one lucky woman.
But after taxes, she took home only two-thirds of her $120,000 prize.
A lottery winner took home only two-thirds of her prize after taxesGetty Images - Getty
“I used to do Quick Picks but I’ve been using family birthday numbers since January after seeing that someone else won doing that,” Melinda Boyce told lottery officials.
Boyce of Denver, North Carolina – located about 35 minutes northwest of Charlotte – bought her winning ticket on May 22.
She paid just $1 for her ticket using the Online Play feature.
Boyce first learned of her jackpot win from an email.
“I started to freak out,” she said.
“I kept saying, ‘My numbers came up, my numbers came up.’”
The odds of matching all five white balls to win the $120,000 jackpot are 1 in 962,598.
After claiming her prize at North Carolina lottery headquarters, Boyce took home $85,800 once taxes were taken out.
“This is just insane,” she said of hitting the jackpot.
With her newfound cash, Boyce wanted to pay bills and stash some cash away.
The North Carolina Cash 5 game is one of a handful that can be played either by purchasing a physical ticket, through the Online Play feature, or via the lottery’s official app.
Less than three hours from Denver, a Pembroke woman won $1 million playing a different North Carolina game.
Jo Jones bought a $10 Million Spectacular ticket from a convenience store.
Upon realizing she hit the jackpot, Jones “started hollering and running through the store,” she told North Carolina Education Lottery.
But her prize was quickly downgraded to $600,000 when she opted to claim the one-time lump sum payment.
Her take-home amount was further reduced to $429,014 after state and federal taxes.
Still, she was thrilled and eager to use the money to help her children.
“It’s like a dream,” Jones said.
“This still just feels unreal.”
Top lottery winners in the US
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
Unknown winner – $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
Unknown winner – $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
Unknown winner – he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
Unknown winner – $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
Yanira Alvarez – $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
Wolverine FLL Lottery Club – $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan.
Unknown winner – $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan.
LOTTO LUCK
Just across the state line in South Carolina, a woman who was feeling lucky bought a $10 scratch-off and landed a six-figure prize.
The unnamed woman stopped at a gas station to buy the ticket.
She then won $300,000.
“It was unbelievable,” she told lottery officials.
She shared plans to use the money to travel.
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