In an almost mystical twist of fate, a North Carolina man has hit the jackpot, winning an astounding $837,187 from a mere $1 lottery ticket. This remarkable event came on the heels of his sister’s prophetic dream wherein she envisioned him unearthing a treasure trove of gold. David Atwell, hailing from Kannapolis—a city situated 27 miles to the northeast of Charlotte—had his stars align when he purchased his lucky ticket at the local Jiffy Quik.
The North Carolina Education Lottery detailed in a press release that Cash 5, the game in which Atwell struck it big, is one that encourages players to dream big. With a jackpot beginning at $100,000, it grows progressively heftier until a winner emerges. To sweeten the pot, the game offers a “Double Play” option where, for an additional dollar, players get their numbers entered into a secondary drawing for further prizes. It seems some dreams do, indeed, find their way into waking reality.
Atwell recounted his sister’s dream to officials, where his finding gold seemed nothing short of a fantastical hope. “In her dream I found a bunch of gold,” he recollected. With the windfall that followed, it’s clear that some dreams certainly can turn to gold.
Despite the staggering win seeming to come out of the blue, Atwell maintains that the winds of fortune have often been in his favor. He muses on his long-standing reputation within his family as the one touched by lady luck. “My family always said I was the luckiest one in the family,” Atwell asserted. The realization did not dawn on him immediately, though; it was only as he watched the winning white ball numbers align with the ones on his ticket that the extraordinary truth sunk in. “I was stunned,” Atwell admitted. Confronted with the resetting of the jackpot back to $100,000—a clear indication that someone had won—it hadn’t occurred to him that the victor was he himself.
Upon the epiphany of his prize, Atwell’s jubilation knew no bounds, leaving even his pet cat bewildered by his uninhibited display. “He was hollering so much it scared the cat,” shared Cherie Atwell, his spouse, with a mixture of amusement and delight.
The newfound millionaire claimed his bountiful prize on April 30 at the North Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters nestled in Raleigh. The sum that Atwell took home after tax deductions was a lump-sum amount of $598,591. With nearly $600,000 at his disposal, Atwell has indicated his intentions to settle some bills and generously donate a portion to his church.
The chances of winning the Cash 5 jackpot are exceptionally slim, with the odds pegged at 1 in 962,598, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery. The game’s overall odds are calculated to be 1 in 10.5, beckoning those with a penchant for risk and dreaming big.
To buy into this game of dreams, aspiring players will need to visit local venues such as convenience stores, gas stations, or grocery stores. A select number of states also offer the convenience of purchasing tickets online. The digital platform, Jackpocket, serves as the USA TODAY Network’s official digital lottery courier in various states and territories including but not limited to Arizona, New York, and West Virginia. The service allows participants to select their numbers, place orders, and manage their tickets all from the comfort of their phone or home computer.
Jackpocket’s collaboration with the USA TODAY Network might result in generated revenue for audience referrals. Participants must adhere to age regulations, varying from 18+ to 21+ depending on the state. It should be noted that this service is in no way affiliated with any State Lottery. For those facing gambling issues, a wide range of resources are available for support, including helplines and text services.
The unlikely story of David Atwell serves as a testament that, sometimes, one only needs a dollar and a dream—or a prophetic sibling—to strike gold.
