ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — What would you do if you won the lottery? A Rowan County man says he immediately ran home and put his ticket in a safe hiding place: his microwave.
Cristen Breton bought three scratch-off tickets from the Fast Stop on Andrews Street in Spencer. Little did he know the third ticket was going to change his life.
He scratched off the $20 Platinum ticket and it revealed a $2 million prize. Breton said he initially thought it was a joke. That's when a store employee reminded him that yes, he was indeed a winner.
"The cashier told me to go home and not tell anyone," Breton told the North Carolina Education Lottery. "I put the ticket in the microwave to protect it from my dog."
Breton collected his prize on Wednesday. He was given the choice of a lump sum or an annuity of $100,000 over 20 years. He opted for the lump sum of $1.2 million and brought home $858,006 after taxes. As for how he'll spend the money, Breton has one person in mind.
"The only thing I want to do is help my mom," he said. "She deserves this."
He also plans to repair his house.
The Platinum scratch-off game debuted in August 2022 with four top prizes of $2 million. Since Breton won the last grand prize, the lottery will end the game.
Playing the lottery is a form of gambling. If you are concerned about your gambling or worried about a friend, you can call the NC Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-877-718-5543. You can also contact the National Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.