Hillsborough man claims $4 million lottery prize

A Hillsborough man has won the top prize in the $150 Million Cash Explosion game, the North Carolina Education Lottery announced Monday.

Rodney Emory won $4 million after buying a $20 ticket at a Quality Mart located on U.S. Highway 70 in Hillsborough.

Instead of choosing the option of taking the money as an annuity of $200,000 over the span of 20 years, Emory decided to take a lump sum of $2.4 million after taxes.

Taxes are only a portion of it. The $4 million is also discounted to a present-day value, which is the biggest reason the lump-sum is smaller.

Emory is the second winner of the $4 million top prize, and two more still remain to be won. The Cash Explosion ticket started with four $4 million prizes and six $1 million prizes. Four $1 million prizes are still up for grabs.

Emory's ticket purchase plays a small part in the lottery's efforts to raise more than $650 million each year for the state.