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A lucky player in North Carolina is celebrating winning a "life-changing" prize thanks to a scratch-off lottery ticket.
Danny Johnson, Jr., of Greensboro, recently stopped by the High Point B on Greensboro Road in High Point where he purchased a $5 Holiday Cash 50X ticket, according to a release from the NC Education Lottery. It wasn't until he was at the gas pump that he scratched the ticket to reveal he was the lucky winner of one of the game's $150,000 prizes.
"I cracked a smiled when I first saw it. But I tried to keep it cool," he said, adding that he even wanted to shout about how excited he was but realized he wasn't in the best place for that at the time. "I wanted to holler but I knew better."
Johnson claimed his prize at lottery headquarters on Monday (December 2), taking home an impressive $107,251 after all required state and federal tax withholdings. According to lottery officials, he already has plans to use his new winnings to make renovations around his home.
"My house has needed a lot of work for years," he said. "This win is life-changing."
According to the lottery website, the Holiday Cash 50X game launched last month with four top prizes of $150,000. Following Johnson's win, two prizes remain to be claimed.