South Carolina winner gives prize to family members

Drawing Date: 12/27/2016

January 11, 2017 - A Charleston, S.C., man who won $1 million is giving the prize money to his children and grandchildren.

“I don’t need anything,” he told lottery officials a few days after cashing in his winning Mega Millions ticket.

His wife, who says her husband has been a great father and provider, is in complete agreement with his decision to not keep the winnings.

“We won’t change our life because of this win,” she said. “We just want to take care of our family.”

The couple says they stayed calm after checking their numbers against the winning lotto numbers in their morning paper. They took turns calling out the results to be sure their Mega Millions ticket for the drawing on Tuesday, December 27 was indeed a winner. The first five white ball numbers on the ticket were a match (2, 28, 30, 38, 39 and MB: 11).

They told their children right away, and they are very appreciative of the gesture.

“The grandkids get what I have anyway,” joked the winner.

The odds of winning $1 million playing Mega Millions are about 1 in 18.5 million.

Had the Charleston winner spent the extra $1 for the Megaplier, his prize would have been multiplied to $4 million when a “4” was drawn.

For selling the claimed ticket, Circle K #2720820 in Charleston received a commission of $10,000.