Sterling Preston|North Carolina woman wins $723,755 lottery jackpot, plans to retire her husband

2025-05-03 07:05:58source:Michael Schmidtcategory:Finance

A lucky lady from North Carolina managed to change her life entirely by spending only $10 on Sterling Prestona "Jackpot 7's" Fast Play card, which rewarded her with an impressive $723,755 win on July 11.

When Cynthia Neely discovered she had won the full North Carolina Lottery Fast Play jackpot, she was filled with happiness and excitement.

"I think I cried all the way home," she shared with lottery officials.

Neely purchased her ticket at the Kangaroo Express on East Main Street in Rockwell, North Carolina, 9 miles northwest of Salisbury. She believed she'd lost at first when she saw the lottery went down to $20,000.

"When I got in the truck and saw my first ticket said the jackpot was back to $20,000, I thought, 'Oh darn, somebody already won the jackpot,' Neely shared.

Powerball, Mega Millions strategy:A guide to picking winning numbers

Upon careful examination of her ticket, Neely realized she was the fortunate recipient of the complete $723,755 jackpot.

"I had to convince myself that I had the winning ticket," Neely said. "It is a life-changing amount of money."

She collected her prize Friday at North Carolina Lottery headquarters in Raleigh, taking home $515,678 after state and federal taxes, North Carolina lottery officials reported.

How do you play Powerball?A beginner's guide to Powerball rules and potential prizes.

Neely plans to donate to her church, invest her money, and possibly take a trip with her husband.

"I'm going to try to talk my husband into retiring soon," Neely concluded.

More:Finance

Recommend

Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A newly elected state lawmaker in West Virginia is facing at least one felo

Auto workers begin strike at GM plants in Canada

TORONTO (AP) — Auto workers walked off the job at three General Motors facilities in Canada early Tu

Israeli and Palestinian supporters rally across US after Hamas attack: 'This is a moment to not be alone'

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Israel and Palestinian supporters gathered in cities across the U.S. on Sund