North Carolina dad-to-be wins $1 million jackpot while at grandma’s house

A North Carolina father-to-be won a $1 million jackpot in a scratch-off game while at his grandmother’s house for dinner, lottery officials said.

Clayton Cook, of Hickory, won big on Sept. 14 when he bought some instant lottery games at a grocery store — including a $30 Colossal Cash ticket with a $10 million top prize — before heading to his grandmother’s house, state lottery officials said Friday.

“It’s indescribable, really,” Cook told reps from the North Carolina Education Lottery of his massive windfall.

Cook said his stroke of good fortune came as he scratched off his final ticket of the day — and just before his grandmother walked into the room.

“I was on the second line of the last ticket and I kept on scratching,” Cook said. “There was just about a minute of silence and about that time I looked right at her and I said, ‘Grandma, I just won $1 million.’ ”

“Oh my Lord!” Cook recalled his grandmother saying as she gave him a huge hug.

Cook, who could not be reached for comment Monday, claimed his prize Thursday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh.

Cook had the choice of taking the $1 million prize in an annuity of 20 payments of $50,000 per year or a $600,000 lump sum. He opted for the latter and took home $424,509 after state and federal tax deductions, lottery officials said.

Cook had faced overall odds of 1 in 2.83 million, according to the lottery game’s website.

Cook, who is expecting his first child in February, said he intends to use the newfound fortune to get ready for his new life as a father and possibly launch a business.

“I’ve been wanting to start a business with my brother,” Cook said. “So that might be one of the things that I invest in.”

One scratch-off ticket worth $10 million, as well as three others worth $1 million, were still up for grabs in the Colossal Cash game as of Sunday, lottery officials said.

New York Post

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