NC lottery winner hits mega-jackpot and shrugs it off: ‘I’m down to earth.’
Even hitting a multimillion-dollar jackpot isn’t enough in today’s economy, a North Carolina lottery winner told The Charlotte Observer on Tuesday.
Jimmie Shindler of Gastonia sounded a bit humble and none-too-impressed by the Lucky for Life jackpot he scored on a $2 ticket in the Aug. 3 drawing.
Shindler bought the ticket through Online Play on the N.C. Education Lottery’s website and won the top prize of $1,000 a day for life, according to a lottery news release Tuesday.
He matched the white balls — 1, 17, 25, 27 and 42 — and the yellow Lucky Ball, 10, beating odds of 1 in 30.8 million, officials said.
Shindler claimed his prize at lottery headquarters in Raleigh on Monday, officials said. He had the choice of $365,000 a year for the rest of his life or a $5.75 million lump sum, according to the lottery. He chose the lump sum and took home $4.08 million after taxes, officials said.
He shrugged off the win when the Observer reached him by phone.
“Just going to save the money,” Shindler said. “$4 million is not much these days, my friend.”
Shindler, who is 60, said he’ll continue working in technology services for the City of Gastonia until his previously planned retirement in two years.
He has three grown daughters and three grown sons, he said.
“I’m down to earth,” Shindler said. “I cut my grass. Just simple. Just (going to) relax.”
He said his wife, Anna Marie, was excited by the win, but the couple realized the money won’t go far and that it best belongs in savings. No grand getaway, new home or other large expense is planned, he said.
They will enjoy a dinner out, he said.
