Iredell County man’s dreams come true with $2 million win

RALEIGH, N.C. — Daniel Greenan of Mooresville walked into a convenience store on Friday with a dream of winning big, and that’s exactly what happened when a $20 scratch-off delivered a $2 million prize.

“It was $20 and a dream,” he said. “And the dream came true.”

Greenan bought his lucky Instant Millions ticket from Home Run Market on Williamson Road in Mooresville. He won the first $2 million top prize in the new game.

“I started crying,” he said. “Never in a million years did I think something like this would happen to me.”

Greenan called his partner right away to tell her what happened.

“I said, ‘We just won $2 million,’” Greenan recalled. “She said, ‘You’re lying,’ and I said, ‘No honey I swear I am not lying.’”

Greenan said he could barely wait to come to lottery headquarters on May 20 to claim the prize.

“I haven’t slept since Friday,” he laughed.

When Greenan arrived to collect his prize, he had a decision to make. He could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $100,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $1.2 million. He chose the annuity option and, after his first $100,000 payment on Monday, he collected $70,657 after taxes.

Greenan said he will use his winnings to travel around the country including visits to Hawaii and the Grand Canyon.

Instant Millions debuted this month with four $2 million top prizes and eight $100,000 prizes. Three $2 million prizes and eight $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.

For details on how $11.1 million raised by the lottery made a difference for education programs in Iredell County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.

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