Winner in NC lottery makes rare choice to turn down the $390,000 lump sum check

A Charlotte man did something out of the ordinary when he opted not to take a six-figure check from the North Carolina Education Lottery.

The Lucky for Life drawing gives winners of its second-tier prize a choice of annual installments or taking a lump sum of $390,000, the lottery noted in an April 10 news release.

Most lottery winners go with lump sum checks, but not Robert Havelka Jr.

Havelka went in the other direction after winning in the April 2 drawing, officials said.

“He chose the $25,000 a year for life option and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $17,938 in his first yearly payment,” lottery officials said.

Havelka picked up his first check April 9 at the lottery headquarters in Raleigh.

Winning $25,000 a year is the second-tier prize in the game, and the odds of winning it are 1 in 1.8 million.

The top prize is $1,000 a day and odds of winning it are 1 in 30,821,472.

Havelka bought his ticket at the Fast Mart on The Plaza in Charlotte, about four blocks southeast of East Sugar Creek Road. He went with the Quick Pick option, which let a terminal pick his numbers: 18-22-35-36-43, with a gold Lucky Ball 8.

This story was originally published April 11, 2025 at 9:45 AM with the headline "Winner in NC lottery makes rare choice to turn down the $390,000 lump sum check."