UNION COUNTY, N.C. -- A grandfather from Waxhaw is celebrating after winning $795,578 in the North Carolina Cash 5 jackpot.
Mark Russel, who is currently expecting his second grandchild, bought the $1 Quick Pick ticket at the Harris Teeter on Kensington Drive. He beat the odds of 1 in 749,398 to match all five numbers in the Dec. 2 drawing.
“When the clerk looked at the ticket and told me, I couldn’t believe it,” said Russell. “This is a blessing!”
After required state and federal tax withholdings, Russel took home $552,934. Russell claimed his prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh.
He says he plans to spend "some" of the money on his grandkids.