Clayton, N.C., September 21, 2025
News Summary
Jhonatan Hurtado Espinal has won the first $1 million in the North Carolina Education Lottery’s new $1,000,000 Bonus Match game. He purchased the winning ticket at Compare Foods in Clayton and opted for a lump sum payment of $600,000, taking home $430,503 after taxes. This win adds to the excitement surrounding recent lottery victories in the area, highlighting the growing popularity of such games and their contributions to education funding in the state.
Clayton, N.C. – Jhonatan Hurtado Espinal has become the first winner of a $1 million top prize in the North Carolina Education Lottery’s new $1,000,000 Bonus Match game. The winning ticket was purchased at Compare Foods located on East Second Street in Clayton. This new lottery game, which debuted in August 2023, offers a total of five top prizes of $1 million, of which four still remain to be claimed.
After winning, Espinal faced a choice between receiving his prize as an annuity—$50,000 per year for 20 years—or opting for a lump sum payment. He chose the lump sum, which totaled $600,000 before state and federal taxes. After tax deductions, he brought home a total of $430,503.
The announcement regarding Espinal’s win was made by the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL), highlighting a notable event in the ongoing excitement surrounding lottery games in the state. This win comes on the heels of another significant lottery victory by a different Clayton resident who claimed a $2 million Powerball prize on Labor Day. This winner successfully matched five white balls in the Powerball drawing and had purchased a $3 online Power Play ticket.
The odds of winning a Powerball drawing are approximately 1 in 292 million. Currently, the Powerball jackpot stands at $1.3 billion, with the option for a winner to take home a lump sum of $589 million.
With the increasing number of significant lottery wins in the region, public interest in these games continues to rise. The North Carolina Education Lottery not only aims to provide residents with opportunities to win substantial prizes but also allocates its proceeds toward the funding of education initiatives across the state.
For individuals concerned about gambling and its effects, the NC Problem Gambling Helpline is available for assistance. They provide resources and support to help those in need.
As Jhonatan Hurtado Espinal enjoys his newfound financial windfall, he joins a growing list of North Carolinians experiencing life-changing lottery wins that have sparked excitement and hope within the community.
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Additional Resources
- ABC11 News
- WCNC News
- WXII 12 News
- North Carolina Lottery News
- The News Observer
- Wikipedia: Lottery
- Google Search: North Carolina Education Lottery
- Google Scholar: lottery winnings
- Encyclopedia Britannica: lottery
- Google News: North Carolina lottery news
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