A Wilkes County man won $1 million on a scratch-off and is putting it in a trust for his daughters
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Michael Walsh of Boomer has claimed a $1 million top prize on the North Carolina Education Lottery's $20 20 Years scratch-off. According to the lottery, he bought the ticket at the Shop 'n Save on Wilkesboro Boulevard in Lenoir, where he had stopped for chicken wings.
"The ticket stared at me," Walsh said. "It was telling me something." He tried a few scratch-offs before going back for one more, and that was the jackpot winner.
He said the first thing he thought about was his two daughters. "I felt good for the girls, it's a future for my kids," Walsh said. "I've always worked for my girls." He plans to put the money toward a trust fund and savings for them.
The $1 million on the ticket came to $432,066
When Walsh arrived Wednesday to collect, he had a choice. The prize could come as an annuity of $50,000 a year for 20 years ($1 million), or as a lump sum of $600,000. He took the lump sum. After state and federal withholding the lottery reported his check at $432,066.
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Advertised top prize | $1,000,000 |
| Lump-sum cash value | $600,000 |
| Federal withholding (24%) | $144,000 |
| North Carolina withholding (3.99%) | $23,940 |
| Check reported by the lottery | $432,066 |
That is about 43 cents on the advertised dollar, and the withholding is not the end of it. A $600,000 prize on its own reaches the 35% federal bracket, so the final federal bill could take an extra 11% to 13% next April.
One top prize left, and the game is more than half sold
20 Years went on sale April 7, 2026 with three $1 million top prizes. Walsh claimed the second, and the lottery said only one $1,000,000 prize remains. About 56% of the run has been sold.
| Prize | At launch | Remaining | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000,000 | 3 | 1 | 1 in 1,194,060 |
| $20,000 | 200 | 90 | 1 in 17,911 |
| $500 | 893 | 407 | 1 in 4,011 |
| $400 | 1,796 | 804 | 1 in 1,995 |
| $200 | 19,575 | 8,629 | 1 in 183 |
The game pays back 76.4% of sales, above North Carolina's $20 average of 76.3% and the national $20 figure of 75.1%, and it wins on one ticket in 3.45. It rates 62.5 on our ValueScore™ scale, which reflects a game halfway through its run with most of its top prizes gone. North Carolina's 79 active games average 72.3% payout. Current North Carolina rankings update daily.
The lottery said education programs in Wilkes County received $4.3 million from lottery funds last year.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who won $1 million on the North Carolina 20 Years scratch-off?
Michael Walsh of Boomer, in Wilkes County. According to the North Carolina Education Lottery, he bought the $20 ticket at the Shop ‘n Save on Wilkesboro Boulevard in Lenoir and claimed the prize on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. He said he plans to put the money into a trust fund and savings for his two daughters.
How much did the $1 million winner actually take home?
$432,066. Walsh chose the lump sum of $600,000 over an annuity of $50,000 a year for 20 years, and the lottery withheld 24% for federal tax and 3.99% for North Carolina tax. His check came to about 43% of the $1 million printed on the ticket.
Are there any $1 million prizes left in the 20 Years game?
One. The game launched April 7, 2026 with three $1 million top prizes, and one remains as of September 4, 2026. About 56% of the tickets have been sold. It is a $20 game that pays back 76.4% of sales with overall odds of 1 in 3.45, and it rates 62.5 on our ValueScore scale.
Jessie Jurado is a news writer who covers new scratch-off launches, state lottery guides, taxes on winnings, news, and much more. She joined ScratchCheck in 2026 and writes the site's state-by-state coverage.
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