North Carolina teen wins $1 million lottery on $10 scratch card – after sister picks his ticket

A North Carolina teenager became an overnight millionaire after winning $1 million on a $10 scratch card – chosen by his sister.

Jalen McLean, 18, told North Carolina Education Lottery officials that he gave money to his sister Dasha Silas and asked her to buy him a scratch-off lottery ticket on May 21.

Ms. Silas then picked out a $10 Jumbo Bucks bill from the Valero store in Fayetteville and gave it to him, Mr. McLean said.

Ms Silas said she then saw her brother scratch his winning lottery ticket and realize he had won big.

“He had a huge smile on his face,” she said. “He was so big he looked like the character from the movie Venom.”

Mr. McLean, who is the youngest of five siblings, then surrendered his ticket to North Carolina Education Lottery officials and collected part of his winnings on May 22.

The teenager said he felt like “the luckiest guy in the universe” after his victory.

“How many 18-year-olds earn something like that? he said.

He added that he plans to use part of his winnings to buy an Audi.

It is unclear whether he will share his winnings with his sister who chose the ticket.

The independent has contacted the North Carolina Education Lottery for comment.

According to the NC Education Lottery website, winners can either choose to withdraw $600,000 as an initial payment or choose to receive their winnings in annual installments.

The NC Education Lottery said Mr. McLean elected to receive his prize as a $50,000 annuity for 20 years, meaning he will receive a check every year until he turns 38.

His first check, which he cashed last week, came to $35,753 after required state and federal tax withholdings.

The teen’s win comes after another North Carolina teen — 18-year-old Donnie Leviner — won nearly $2 million earlier this month, one of the first times he played the lottery.

Mr Leviner told the NC Education Lottery he also received winnings from a scratch-off ticket – something he said he had a “gut feeling” he should buy.

“Something told me to buy it,” he said at the time.

The NC Education Lottery benefits local schools. Scotland County, where Mr. Leviner lives, has received $1.6 million in funding for projects since the Big Cash Payout launched last July.

The odds of winning something in the scratch card game are 1 in 3.21, but winning the $2 million top prize is about 1 in 1.6 million.

Four people have won this jackpot so far, according to the lottery website, and two more prizes are up for grabs. Most prizes awarded range from $5,000 to $20,000.