North Carolina Man Scores $2 Million Lottery Win: 'Like A Fairy Tale'

A man in North Carolina is living his very own "fairy tale" after scoring an impressive multi-million dollar lottery win.

Jose Analco Ramirez, of Greensboro, stopped by the Circle K on New Garden Road last week where he purchased a $20 100X The Cash scratch-off ticket, according to a release from the NC Education Lottery. This proved to be a good move as he ended up winning one of the game's top prizes of $2 million. When reflecting on his win, he told lottery officials how he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"I thought I was tripping," he said, laughing. "I saw the first two at first and thought it was $2,000."

Ramirez claimed his prize at lottery headquarters on Friday (May 30) where he had the choice to receive his win as either an annuity of $100,000 over the course of 20 years or as a one time, lump sum payment of $1.2 million. He ultimately chose the latter and took home a grand total of $861,006 after all required state and federal tax withholdings. According to lottery officials, he plans to invest some of his winnings and potentially even start his own business.

"It was like a fairy tale turned into reality," he said, adding, "It just didn't feel real. It still doesn't feel real."