$600K Lottery Win on 40th Birthday Shocks NC Woman
BREAKING: A North Carolina woman, Chelsea Carter, made headlines after winning $626,543 on her 40th birthday in a stunning turn of events. The house cleaner from Ocean Isle Beach placed a modest $10 bet at 2 a.m. and struck it rich on the Monopoly Digital Instants game offered by the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Carter’s incredible win comes with staggering odds of one in 50 million. “Today is my 40th birthday. This is the best birthday present ever,” Carter exclaimed in a TikTok video shared by the lottery. The emotional moment unfolded when she woke her husband to share the life-changing news, only to have him respond with disbelief. “I go ‘I just won $626,000,’ and he laughed and closed his eyes,” she recounted, still in shock.
On September 12, after receiving the official check, her emotions surged. “I’ve cried, I’ve laughed, it’s surreal,” she said, expressing gratitude for the unexpected fortune. The prize, totaling $626,543 before taxes and $449,548 after taxes, is seen by Carter as a “blessing.” She emphasizes that “everyday people can win something like this, and we did,” inspiring hope amid challenging times.
Looking ahead, Carter plans to invest part of her winnings in land, aiming to create a safety net for her three children. Meanwhile, the current jackpot for the Monopoly game continues to attract eager players, now exceeding $474,000.
As lottery excitement builds, financial experts urge caution for winners like Carter. With North Carolina’s policy requiring public disclosure of winners, careful financial planning becomes critical. Financial advisor Rob Wilson advises potential winners to avoid boasting about their luck. “I would tell your spouse, your accountant, and your attorney, that’s it,” he cautioned in a recent interview with CBS News Philadelphia.
Wilson stresses the importance of consulting with an attorney and working with multiple financial advisors to safeguard newfound wealth. “You never, ever want to sign a power of attorney to any of those advisors, which gives them an undue amount of authority over your winnings,” he added.
Carter’s extraordinary win serves as a reminder of the life-changing potential of lottery games while highlighting the importance of prudent financial management. As excitement continues to swirl around lottery games, her story is sure to inspire many across the state and beyond. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story and the ongoing lottery excitement in North Carolina.
