A retired Army veteran was filled with so much excitement after learning that he had won the lottery he told officials that he stayed up all night.
“I was so excited I didn’t even know what to do,” said Donald Smiley, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery. “I definitely couldn’t sleep.”
Since Smiley won the Powerball worth $50,000 and purchased a Power Play ticket, his winnings tripled to $150,000 courtesy of the 3X multiplier hit, lottery officials said.
At first, he couldn’t quite believe he won. “I was like, ‘Am I reading this right,’” recalled Smiley. “I’m still so excited.”
He bought his $3 Quick Pick ticket from Catamount Travel Center on U.S. 441 North in Whittier.
As for how he plans to use his lottery winnings, Smiley said that paying bills is at the top of his priorities.
Upon arriving at the North Carolina Education Lottery headquarters on Monday, Oct. 21, Smiley received $107,251 following federal and state tax deductions.
The next Powerball jackpot, worth $478 million in annuity or $230.5 million in cash, is on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The odds of winning are 1 in 292 million.
