Stephen Brady of Clayton, N.C., received a scratch-off lottery ticket as a Christmas gift from his wife and won a $1 million top prize. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Jan. 4 (UPI) -- A North Carolina man received a scratch-off lottery ticket as Christmas gift from his wife and ended up collecting a $1 million prize.
Stephen Brady of Clayton told North Carolina Education Lottery officials his wife bought the $30 Millionaire Maker scratch-off ticket from the Food Lion store in Clayton and gave it to him as a Christmas present.
The ticket turned out to be a $1 million top prize winner.
Brady chose to take his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of about $600,000, before state and federal tax withholdings.
The North Carolina Education Lottery said seven $1 million top prizes remain in the Millionaire Maker game.