$1 lottery ticket becomes a ‘dream come true’ for 64-year-old North Carolina man
A $1 lottery ticket turned into a “dream come true” for a North Carolina man.
“I was honestly numb for about two or three days,” William Kite told the N.C. Education Lottery. “It’s all kind of a haze.”
Now Kite — a 64-year-old Wake County resident — has plans to donate some of his six-figure prize to charity.
“I’ve been given a gift here and I plan to make a difference with it,” he said in a Jan. 18 news release.
Kite basked in his big prize after he tried his luck at an online game. Officials said he spent $1 on a ticket for the Cash 5 game, matching enough numbers to win $422,918 in the Dec. 30 drawing.
In addition to giving to charity, the prize means Kite can turn his attention to home buying.
“This really is a dream come true,” Kite told the N.C. Education Lottery.
Kite, who beat nearly one-in-a-million odds to win big, kept $301,329 after taxes. He works in IT and is from Cary, just west of Raleigh.
It’s not the first time a lottery player has gone numb after scoring a top prize.
In South Carolina, officials said a man found out he won $1 million and “went numb.” Months later, a jackpot winner’s body felt different when he discovered he was getting richer, McClatchy News reported.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhen gambling is more than a game
Gambling is designed to be a source of entertainment.
If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.
This story was originally published January 19, 2023 at 5:49 AM with the headline "$1 lottery ticket becomes a ‘dream come true’ for 64-year-old North Carolina man."
