‘One Father’s Day I’ll never forget.’ NC dad hits jackpot on scratch-off lottery ticket
Thanks to a stop at a convenience store, Father’s Day on Sunday will be one that a 64-year-old North Carolina man said he’ll remember forever.
On Friday, Raleigh resident John Rogers bought a $20 scratch-off lottery ticket as a Father’s Day gift to himself, NC lottery officials said Saturday. He hit a $2 million jackpot.
“This will be one Father’s Day I’ll never forget,” Rogers said when he claimed his prize at lottery headquarters in Raleigh on Friday, according to a lottery news release.
Rogers treated himself to the $100 Million Mega Cash ticket at Capital Food Mart on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh.
He beat odds of 1 in 3.2 million, according to the $100 Million Mega Cash page on the lottery website.
“I was kind of delirious to tell you the truth,” Rogers told lottery officials. “It still hasn’t really hit me yet.”
He said his wife told him: “You don’t have pocket change, you’ve got money now.”
Rogers had the choice of a $100,000 annuity over 20 years or a $1.2 million lump sum. He chose the lump sum and, after taxes, took home $852,126, according to the lottery.
Rogers said he’ll use part of his winnings to pay some bills, donate money to his church and help family members.
He’ll also take a special vacation with his wife, he said.
“I’ve always told her I was going to take her to Hawaii, and now I can,” Rogers said.
The $100 Million Mega Cash game debuted in May with four $2 million top prizes and eight $100,000 prizes. Two $2 million prizes and six $100,000 prizes are still to be claimed, officials said.
This story was originally published June 18, 2022 at 3:47 PM.