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Lottery player hits life-changing jackpot — one day after buying a new home in NC

Benny Murphy, a North Carolina lottery player, bought a new home the day before he got richer.
Benny Murphy, a North Carolina lottery player, bought a new home the day before he got richer. N.C. Education Lottery

A lottery player scored a life-changing win — the day after buying a house.

Now, six-figure prize winner Benny Murphy hopes to pay off his new home.

“I closed on a house on Wednesday,” Murphy told the N.C. Education Lottery as he claimed his prize Aug. 19. “They made a joke about lower payments if I won the lottery.”

Murphy hit the jackpot after a trip to the Quickmart in Mebane, a roughly 30-mile drive east from Greensboro. Murphy, a Mebane resident, was at the convenience store when he spent $1 on a ticket for the Cash 5 game, lottery officials wrote in a news release.

On Aug. 15, Murphy’s ticket matched all the numbers picked in the game’s drawing. He won $439,527, a prize that totaled $314,262 after taxes.

In addition to paying for his home, the lucky winner is hoping to take a fishing trip and put some of his prize money into savings, officials wrote.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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This story was originally published August 20, 2024 at 8:13 AM with the headline "Lottery player hits life-changing jackpot — one day after buying a new home in NC."

Simone Jasper
The News & Observer
Simone Jasper is a service journalism reporter at The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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