A North Carolina man got a big birthday surprise after winning the $4 million Mega Millions lottery prize.
“That was a nice early birthday present,” Statesville resident Shawn Snook told the NC Education Lottery.
Snook purchased a $3 ticket for the December 17 drawing through Online Play. His ticket matched all five white balls, winning $1 million, which was tripled to $4 million when the 4X Megaplier triggered.
“I just picked some random numbers,” Snook recalled. “I woke up the next day and there you go. I couldn’t believe it.”
He stated that the timing of his win is ideal for his family, as they had recently begun building a home.
“This really comes at a great time for us,” Snook said.
After federal and state tax withholdings, he received $2,870,001.
“I’ve told multiple people that I’m going to hit a big one one day,” Snook said. “I just had a feeling.”