North Raleigh Today

The big winner in last week’s $1.33 billion Mega Million lottery drawing wasn’t from North Carolina, but the state still gained a couple of new millionaires as several Tarheel State residents raked in secondary winnings.

Two Carolinians each won $1 million and 12 won $10,000 In Friday’s big drawing. Meanwhile, two others won $20,000 each by signing on for the Megaplier option, which doubles the cash prize.

"Congratulation to all the big winners,” Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery, said in a release on the website. “This huge Mega Millions jackpot created a lot of fun. Every ticket sold in North Carolina helped to raise more money for education this year.”

Both of the million-dollar winners bought their tickets in the Queen City region, with one winner being sold in Charlotte and one in Mooresville.

North Carolinians have been playing sanctioned games of chance since 2005, when Gov. Mike Easley signed the N.C. State Lottery Act, which called for 35% of proceeds to go toward education initiatives.

Friday’s Mega Millions drawing was the second-highest jackpot in history. The winning ticket for the big prize was sold in Illinois. Because someone won the big prize, the total reverted back to a $20 million annuity, or $11.6 million cash, for Tuesday’s drawing. The grand prize builds with every drawing where no one wins the big jackpot.