A North Carolina man, Roy Story, has won a $150,000 lottery prize, equivalent to Rs. 1.25 crore, all thanks to a pumpkin he sold. Story, a resident of Hertford, follows a Halloween tradition where he grows pumpkins in his garden and sells them, as noted by the North Carolina Education Lottery.
“I raise a few pumpkins every year and sell them. Someone gave me $10 for a pumpkin, and I used that to buy the ticket,” Story explained. Unlike most lottery players who purchase tickets impulsively at gas stations, Story had a clear plan when he visited Sun Farms on US 17 South in Elizabeth City. He specifically chose a $5 Xtreme Cashword ticket, as he loves playing crossword games.
Surprisingly, despite winning, Story was unaware of the prize amount because he didn’t have his glasses on. “I thought it won $1,000,” he said. However, his actual prize was 150 times that amount, and he plans to use the money to buy a new truck.
In a similar situation, another lottery player from Nebraska, Michael Henrichs, initially believed he had won just $20 on his ticket. Henrichs, from Springfield, picked up a $20 Titanium 20s ticket after watching another customer buy one. As he scratched further, he noticed a bigger amount than expected. “At first, I thought I’d won $20, but I kept scratching. Then maybe a $200 win. Then I saw the comma,” Henrichs recounted.
Interestingly, Henrichs’ win came exactly 30 years after he purchased his current home and just a day before his birthday, making the victory even more special.