Two-Time Lottery Winner Eschews Annuity For Lump Sum

Terry Splawn of Concord said he's still in shock after he purchased a $1 million lottery ticket for the second time in two years.

"What are the odds of this happening?" Splawn said. "I can't believe I won the lottery not once, but twice!"

His first run in with good luck happened in April 2017 when he bought a Millionaire Bucks ticket from Sam's Mini Stop on Old Charlotte Road in Concord. The second happened Wednesday, less than two years later, when he bought a $150 Million Cash Explosion scratch-off ticket from the same store.

"I was surprised," Splawn said. "I couldn't believe I hit again. I just thought, 'This can't be happening.'"

It was, and Splawn claimed his prize Thursday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of taking an annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $424,506.

"My wife spent most of the last prize remodeling our home," Splawn said. "I'm keeping this one. I'm going to put it aside for a rainy day."

The $20 ticket launched in October 2018 with four top prizes of $4 million and six $1 million prizes. Three $4 million prizes and four $1 million prizes remain.

Ticket sales from games like $150 Million Cash Explosion help the lottery raise more than $650 million a year for education.

For details on how $14.9 million in lottery funds made a difference in Cabarrus County last year, click on the "Impact" section of the lottery's website, https://www.nclottery.com.