Robert A. Farris Jr.
Commission Chairman
Alice Garland
Executive Director
DATE: MAY 9, 2011
CONTACT: RYAN KENNEMUR
PHONE: (919) 301-3306
Three players split record-setting $1.35 million Cash 5 prize
- Gaston County woman wins $448,961 Cash 5 prize … and then some –
- Two Cash 5 players from Greensboro collect $448,961 prizes RALEIGH – Carolina Cash 5 players saw one of the luckiest weeks in the game’s history as three players split last
Thursday’s $1.35 million jackpot and a player in Charlotte claimed a ticket worth $109,256.
Two Cash 5 players from Greensboro and one from Crouse in Gaston County matched all five numbers in the May
5 drawing, each winning $448,961. The jackpot had grown for 13 straight draws since it was last won on April 21 for
$773,609.
Beverly Kiser of Crouse in Gaston County decided to try her luck with the Cash 5 game last week when the jackpot
climbed over $1 million and with her second try she became one of the three winners sharing the $1.35 million prize.
But Kiser’s luck didn’t end there. She stopped by Murphy USA on Lincolnton Highway in Cherryville on Friday
morning to thank the store’s retailers for selling her the winning ticket, tried her luck again in the NCEL’s $200 Million
Extravaganza instant scratch-off game and won a $5,000 prize.
“Miracles really do happen,” Kiser said as she collected her prizes Friday at NCEL headquarters in Raleigh.
Kiser, a textile worker who works a 12-hour night shift four times a week, said her win will allow her to buy the twostory home she’s been dreaming about for herself and her two daughters.
“The only luck I’ve had is my two girls and my boyfriend,” said Kiser. “With this, I can spoil them all.” After taxes were
withheld, Kiser received a check for $305,294.
The first Greensboro Cash 5 winner, Gary McDonald, said he planned to use his share of the prize to pay bills and
save for his children’s education. McDonald said he is a regular Cash 5 player.
“I play Cash 5 because I know someone from North Carolina is going to win,” McDonald said Friday afternoon at
NCEL headquarters. McDonald said he brought five tickets at Gaines Citgo Automotive on Battleground Avenue in
Greensboro because the jackpot was so high. He said he thought he’d at least gotten his money back when one of
the tickets paid off $4 and another paid off $1.
“Then, I got to my last ticket and I looked at it and said, “Man. I won.” McDonald received $305,294 after taxes were
withheld.
Lonnie Harris, an HVAC technician from Greensboro, claimed the final winning ticket from the May 5 drawing on
Monday morning. Though he is usually a Carolina Pick 3 player, he decided to play Cash 5 based on a friend’s
suggestion. He plans to use his winnings, worth $305,294 after taxes, to take an Alaskan vacation and pay bills. He
purchased his ticket at Kyle’s Friendly Service on North Elm Street in Greensboro.
Fodeliah Castro Del Ruz, an artist from Charlotte, plans to pay bills with the $109,256 she won by matching all five
numbers in the April 1 Cash 5 drawing. She purchased her ticket at the Lottery Food Mart on West Sugar Creek
Phone: 919.301.3300 • Fax: 919.715.8833
2100 Yonkers Road • Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
www.nc-educationlottery.org
Road in Charlotte. After taxes, she received a $74,297 prize.
Carolina Cash 5 is similar to the multistate games Powerball and Mega Millions because the jackpot grows until one
or more tickets match every number in a drawing. If more than one ticket matches all five numbers in a Cash 5
drawing, the jackpot is split equally among those winning tickets.
In the Friday, May 6 Mega Millions drawing, a total of 11,286 players won prizes ranging from $2 to $450 for a total
payout of $68,933. Because no ticket matched all six numbers to win the jackpot, Tuesday’s jackpot is an estimated
$18 million if taken as an annuity or $11.5 million as a lump sum payment.
A total of 26,669 players in the Saturday, May 7 Powerball drawing won prizes ranging from $3 to $400 for a total
payout of $215,375. Because no ticket matched all six numbers, Wednesday’s jackpot is an estimated $65 million if
taken as an annuity or $33.7 million as a lump sum payment.
The North Carolina Education Lottery has paid out more than $6.2 million in instant scratch-off ticket prizes since
Thursday, May 5. Carolina Pick 3 players have won more than $1.2 million. Carolina Pick 4 players have won more
than $239,000 including four tickets that won the top prize of $5,000. Carolina Cash 5 players have won more than
$1.6 million.
Winners in the May 5 Carolina Cash 5 drawing:
Winner
Hometown
Amount Won
Store Where Ticket Was Purchased
Beverly Kiser
Crouse
$448,961
Gary McDonald
Greensboro
$448,961
Lonnie Harris
Greensboro
$448,961
Murphy USA #7464
2503 Lincolnton Hwy., Cherryville
Gaines Citgo Automotive
2700 Battleground Ave., Greensboro
Kyle’s Friendly Service #104
3602 N. Elm St., Greensboro
Winner in the April 26 Mega Millions drawing:
Winner
Hometown
Amount Won
Store Where Ticket Was Purchased
Randy Mills
Rocky Mount
$10,000
Griffins Food Store #8
1530 Benvenue Rd., Rocky Mount
Winner in the April 1 “Carolina Cash 5” drawing:
Winner
Hometown
Amount Won
Store Where Ticket Was Purchased
Fodeliah Castro Del Ruz
Charlotte
$109,256
Lottery Food Mart
1352 W. Sugar Creek Rd., Charlotte
Amount Won
$10,000
$10,000
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
Game Played
$200 Million Extravaganza
Cash Bonanza
$200,000 a Year for Life
Cash Bonanza
$200 Million Extravaganza
$200 Million Extravaganza
$500,000 Anniversary Cash
Instant scratch-off ticket top tier prize winners:
Winner
Brent Futrell
Judy Murphy
Tanisha Bullock
Bobby Byrd
Beverly Kiser
George Moore
Chris Wiggins
Hometown
Murfreesboro
Valdese
Manson
Greenville, S.C.
Crouse
Fayetteville
Statesville
Carolina Cash 5 Jackpot Winners Tally
Prize
$50,000 to $856,998
# of winners
389
Powerball Winners Tally
Prize
$74.5 Million - $141.4 Million
$200,000 - $2 Million
# of winners
3
201
Phone: 919.301.3300 • Fax: 919.715.8833
2100 Yonkers Road • Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
www.nc-educationlottery.org
$10,000 - $100,000
1187
Mega Millions Winners Tally
Prize
$12 Million and above
$250,000 - $1 Million
$10,000 - $40,000
# of winners
1
26
100
The Powerball numbers are since May 31, 2006.
The Mega Millions numbers are since Feb. 1.
The totals do not include unclaimed prizes.
###
North Carolina Education Lottery net proceeds are used for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk
four-year-olds, reduction of class size in early grades, school construction and need-based college scholarships.
For prizes of $5,000 and greater, 25% federal tax and 7% state tax are automatically withheld.
Phone: 919.301.3300 • Fax: 919.715.8833
2100 Yonkers Road • Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
www.nc-educationlottery.org