Wilmington man wins NC lottery Cash 5 jackpot
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Luck seems to keep running in the family of Jose Cerro Ordonez, a Wilmington resident who won a $726,439 Cash 5 jackpot on Sunday night.
He bought his $1 Quick Pick ticket for Sunday’s drawing using Online Play, according to a news release from the North Carolina Education Lottery. Ordonez said he eventually stopped at some numbers that he liked because they matched some ages and birthday numbers in his family.
“My grandfather won a lottery jackpot twice while living in South America,” he said.
He arrived at lottery headquarters Tuesday, Aug. 8, and, after state and federal tax withholdings, took home $517,588.
Ordonez said his mother has long believed that he inherited the lucky gene from his grandfather.
He plans to pay off his mortgage, set some money aside for his daughter, and help out his family.
Ordonez said he couldn’t believe it when he saw that he hit the jackpot.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, I won,’” he recalled. “It’s really crazy.”
