Lottery player ‘on a roll’ becomes multi-millionaire in NC. ‘I hit the big one’

A lottery player was “on a roll” when checking his recent tickets, but he was still shocked when one revealed he was going to become a multi-millionaire.

Everett Harris won the first $8 million top prize in the $8 Million Money Maker scratch-off game, which debuted in December, the North Carolina Education Lottery said Jan. 14.

“I really didn’t believe what I was seeing,” he told lottery officials. “I hit the big one.”

The Durham man chose to receive his winnings as a one-time payout, which ended up being more than $3.4 million after taxes, according to lottery officials.

Harris had been on a lucky streak, saying “every ticket seemed to be a winner,” before he revealed the prize on the $50 scratcher he bought at a convenience store.

“It’s all luck and it was my lucky day yesterday,” he told the N.C. Education Lottery after he beat the 1-in-3,042,264 odds of winning a top prize.

He said he plans to spend the money on a new truck, bills and home improvements.

Four top prizes remain in the game, lottery officials said.

This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM with the headline "Lottery player ‘on a roll’ becomes multi-millionaire in NC. ‘I hit the big one’."