North Carolina man wins $10 million in lottery

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, North Carolina (WTVD) -- Michael Hill of Leland, North Carolina is $10 million richer after claiming a lottery prize on Friday.

Hill said he bought a ticket that was not a winner. Knowing that there was still one more $10 million prize at stake, Hill decided to buy just one more ticket.

He took the ticket back to his car in the store's parking lot and began scratching.

"I have a strategy when it comes to scratching," Hill said. "I start with the corners. When I got to the dollar symbol I knew I won something. I saw the one and then the zero and it still didn't hit me. But then I saw the 'M'. My heart dropped down to my toes and I lost my breath."

Hill immediately called his wife to tell her the good news.

"I told her to pack her bags because we just won $10 million!"

After required state and federal tax withholdings, Hill took home $4,159,101.

Hill plans to use some of the money to pay off bills. He also plans to invest the money in his wife's instructional design business.

"This is life changing," Hill said. "Wow! Just wow!"

Ultimate Millions launched in September 2015 with four $10 million prizes and 18 $1 million prizes. All top prizes have been won, but one more $1 million prize remains in the game.