A LOTTERY winner has won hundreds of thousands of dollars in a jackpot, however, before she received it almost half was taken from her.
North Carolina resident Bernica Yelverton is the latest Lucky for Life jackpot winner.
It was revealed that the lucky lady bought her $2 lottery ticket online and managed to match all five balls in Wednesday’s drawing, according to NC Education Lottery.
Yelverton beat the odds as the chance of winning the prize was 1 in 1.8 million.
Most lottery players have the option of receiving the annual fee payment or the prize all at once.
Annuity payments allow lottery winners to receive their money every year.
However, she went to headquarters and chose to receive the US$390,000 prize.
Because lottery winners are required to pay state and federal tax withholdings, she received just $278,851.
This is because when lottery players choose a lump sum, they will be heavily taxed because of the big prize.
This has become a common practice for players across the country.
‘THIS CHANGED LIFE’
A group of friends known as The Breakfast Club suffered the same fate as Yelverton after winning an $842 million Powerball.
The friends purchased their tickets at the Food Castle convenience store in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
The numbers drawn were 12, 21, 42, 44, 49 and the Powerball was 1, according to Michigan Lottery Connection
Because they received the money all at once, they only received $305 million.
However, the group didn’t seem to mind losing some of the money.
One of the winners released a statement after the big win.
Top US Lottery Winners

Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
- Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, November 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, October 11, 2023, California.
- Unknown Winner – $1.602 Billion, Mega Millions, August 8, 2023, Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta of Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson of Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt of Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, January 13, 2016.
- Unknown Winner – $1.537 Billion, Mega Millions, October 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Winner unknown – he sued his child’s mother to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, January 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown Winner – $1.337 Billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Cheng and Duanpen Saephan and Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
- Yanira Álvarez – $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
- Wolverine FLL Lottery Club – $1.05 Billion, Mega Millions, January 22, 2021, from Michigan.
- Winner unknown – $842.4 million Powerball, January 1, 2024, from Michigan.
“This award will positively affect our family for generations to come,” said a club member.
“Until now, we have led a comfortable life and planned to retire someday.
“Now, we are not financially tied to a specific calendar. The world – and our opportunities – have opened up in incredible ways.
The owner of the Food Castle, who won $50,000 from selling the winning ticket, also spoke out following the news.
“Selling the winning Powerball ticket was great for our business,” said Food Castle of Grand Blanc owner Bill Nannoshi.
“We will donate every penny of the $50,000 to our employees and community.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story