WINSTON-SALEM — A Winston-Salem construction business owner is celebrating a life-changing $10 million lottery win after following his instincts to purchase a $50 scratch-off ticket on Thursday.

Christopher Sink said he felt an urge to buy the ticket, and his gut feeling proved to be worth millions.

“Sometimes you have a gut feeling,” Sink said. “It just happened to be my lucky day.”

Second Major Lottery Win This Year in North Carolina

Sink purchased his winning $10 Million Spectacular ticket from KP Food Mart on Old Thomasville Road in Winston-Salem. His victory marks only the second $10 million win in North Carolina so far this year.

The moment of realization brought a mix of emotions for the lucky winner.

“I was really nervous at first,” Sink said. “It was kind of a crazy feeling.”

After staring at his ticket for an extended period, Sink became concerned about protecting his newfound fortune.

“I didn’t want the wind to blow it away,” he laughed.

Recent Winner Strikes Gold Again

This massive win wasn’t Sink’s first recent stroke of luck. Just one week prior, he won $10,000 on a different lottery ticket.

“I actually won $10,000 last week on a different ticket,” Sink said. “It’s kind of hard to fathom.”

Winner Chooses Lump Sum Payment

When Sink arrived at lottery headquarters Thursday to collect his prize, he faced a significant financial decision. He could either receive his winnings as an annuity of $500,000 annually over 20 years or take a lump sum payment of $6 million.

Sink opted for the lump sum. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $4,305,014.

“I’m tickled to death about this,” he said.

Plans for the Windfall

The construction business owner has practical plans for his newfound wealth. Sink intends to use the money to pay bills, make investments, and purchase equipment to expand his construction business.

Game Details and Remaining Prizes

The $10 Million Spectacular game launched in December 2023 and originally offered five top prizes of $10 million, along with 20 prizes of $1 million and 20 prizes of $100,000.

Following Sink’s win, significant prizes remain available for future players. One $10 million prize, two $1 million prizes, and four $100,000 prizes are still up for grabs.

Lottery Impact on Local Education

The North Carolina lottery continues to support education programs throughout the state. Last year, lottery proceeds contributed $20.8 million to education programs in Forsyth County.

Details about the lottery’s educational impact are available at www.nclottery.com in the “Impact” section.