‘Tickled to death’: North Carolina man wins $1 million after buying ticket at gas station

SANFORD, N.C. (WGHP) — Ricky Nunnery Jr., of Sanford, won the first $1 million top prize in a new lottery game on Friday, according to an NC Education Lottery news release.

“I dreamed that I would hit big on the lottery,” he said.

Nunnery said he decided to play the game after listening to a gut feeling.

“Something just told me to play,” he said.

Nunnery bought his winning $10 $1,000,000 Triple Play ticket from Wink Mart on Deep River Road in Sanford.

“I’m tickled to death with this,” Nunnery said.

When Nunnery arrived at the lottery headquarters on Friday, he had a decision to make.

He could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000.

He chose the lump sum of $600,000.

After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $430,503.

He plans to use his winnings to pay bills and invest.