RALEIGH, N.C. — A Liberty, North Carolina, man says he plans to pay off the mortgage on his home after his "Millionaire Bucks" win.
Michael Zimmerman, of Liberty, works as an assistant manager at the Ready Mart on North Main Street in Randleman.
According to a news release from the North Carolina Education Lottery, he bought the winning $20 ticket at the store on his day off. He got one ticket and didn't win anything, but said something told him to buy a second one. That one turned out to be the winner.
"I almost fell down," Zimmerman said Friday as he received his check in Raleigh. "I was totally stunned, like a deer in the headlights."
Zimmerman had the option of taking a $4 million annuity or a lump sum worth $2.4 million. He chose the lump sum. After required state and federal withholdings, he took home $1,662,006. He plans to use some of the money to pay off his home.
"I've always wanted to know what it's like to own my own house," Zimmerman said. "I'll have to have an old-fashioned mortgage-burning party."
Zimmerman is the first to win a top prize playing Millionaire Bucks, the news release said. The game began in January with three top prizes of $4 million and five prizes of $1 million.
Two $4 million prizes and four $1 million prizes remain.
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As Michael Zimmerman said,"I was totally stunned." A very common human reaction to winning the lottery.
I am glad that he did not fall down.
Be prepared to win big.
Congratulations to Michael Zimmerman!
so he's the assistant manager at the grocery store where he bought the winning ticket on his day off and 'something told him to buy one more'......
yep, nothing fishy going on here folks......
$20.00 for a scratch ticket is kind of steep. Think I'll pass on that one.
Good Name for this Game!
Good thing he is not named Patel or this thread would have exploded!!!.
Been looking for someone to win a top prize on this ticket!! wondering why it took so long.... Congrats and "spend a little and save a lot" is the motto me and the hubby live by!!!
I wonder if they wait before issuing the winning tickets? If the winning tickets are sold too early, sales would drop to nothing and they'd lose money.
The Patels are running our country.....I stay clear of all those places now,stores,hotels,subways,.....Keep my money and figure on paper.It's alot cheaper in Tennessee............I know they are losing my money in Murfreesboro.I think it's funny.Cheated us for years.
there are thousands of patels running stores in this country. ok, you stay clear of them. ok to keep your money but what do you figure on paper. what is cheaper in tennessee exactly. who is losing your money in murfreesboro. what exactly is funny and who cheated you for years. i think you got cheated out of an education in school if you actually went. clear this up for everyone.
Congratulations. Same here, when I win, here comes the mortgage burning party. Nice story for a rainy night.
I needs me a small win like he got.
I needs to get me a modest house, a RAM pickup, and possibly a Fatboy S.
(Of the 3, I can do without the Harley, for now.)
Congratulations MR Zimmerman on your windfall '
Paying off a mortgage may feel good, however it may not be the best financial decision.
Lottery winnings should get independent, professional financial advice, before any decisions are made.
This is why I believe there should be a cooling off period before winners receive their prize money.
he only won 1.6 million. an amount no one on here would even consider spending 2.00 on to try to win that if it had been other than a scratch off card. he doesn't need professional financial advice which he would have to pay for and get talked into investing with these sharks who would do nothing more than try to position his money so he couldn't spend it but they could. i'm sure his mortgage isn't that much of a percentage of this so pay the thing off and hope a hurricane, fire, or flood doesn't come back to haunt him. a cooling off period would really go over big with lottery players i'm sure. you buck the odds and win and you have to wait because other people are afraid you will squander it. i don't think so.
PARTY ON MR. ZIMMERMAN. CONGRATULATIONS!
PLACE THE MORTGAGE IN THE FIREPLACE, BURN IT DOWN, SIPPIN ON SOME COOL JACK DANIELS AND JAMMIN TO SOME OLD ALABAMA.
Well, with the financial situation around the world, if someone is able to relieve themselves of debt, it's the smartest thing they can do.
I've got about 4 years to retirement, and the best way to retire is with no debt. Easier to live cheap with no obligations.
My wife and I loved Alabama. Saw several concerts. They really put on a show.
ALABAMA!! ROLL TIDE, ROLL!!
Congrats to the lucky guy, enjoy that Mortgage Burning party.
There's already a cooling off period...the time between the win and the collect.
when I hit 4/5 on the JC5 game it took over 4 weeks to get paid,
if that's not enough I been in cooling ever since I bought my first tix.
Ah, golfer1960, lovely notion!
heymaker, congratulations on your tidy win!
Thanks,
but it's been a while, over 2 years.
Lol we don't need a cooling off period. I think you should be able to get the money the same day. Like JG Wentworth says..."It's your money get it when you want it "
Congratulations Mr. Zimmerman....
Paying off debt is always a good investment, especially for big debts like mortgages.