Officials will draw the next $1 million winner from the pool of eligible North Carolinians who've received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose as of Sunday, July 4. However, the incentive of a lump sum payout is not swaying people to line up for their shots.
The first of four drawings scheduled over the next two months. A random winner was chosen by a number generator matched up to their date of birth, according to state officials. NC's Department of Health and Human Services will determine who the person is before the state deems if they're eligible for the seven-figure payout.
Sadhana Patel of New Bern, N.C. won a $373K jackpot on a $5 lottery ticket, according to a news release from the North Carolina Education Lottery. Enough to pay for a nice second honeymoon to celebrate two decades of wedded bliss.
A lot of money is at stake in this week's lottery drawings with an estimated $850 million in Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing and an estimated $730 million in Wednesday's Powerball jackpot. That's a combined $1.58 billion, before taxes, and roughly $632 million in combined taxes for a lump-sum payment of $948 million.
