When a North Carolina man visited a convenience store Tuesday, he didn’t know luck was on his side.

Jerry Hicks, a master carpenter from Banner Elk, found a $20 bill in the store’s parking lot, he said in a statement. He spent it on a scratch lottery ticket – and won $1 million.

Hicks used the money to purchase an Extreme Cash scratch-off game, according to the release.

“They actually didn’t have the ticket I was looking for, so I bought that one instead,” he said.

Hicks claimed his prize Friday at the North Carolina Educational Lottery headquarters. He chose to receive the award as a lump sum of $600,000 rather than as a 20-year annuity, according to the release.

After taxes, Hicks won $429,007, according to the lottery.

Hicks plans to use the money to help his children and retire as a carpenter after age 56, the release said.

But before that, Hicks wants to enjoy his victory.

“We go straight to Golden Corral and eat everything they have,” he said.

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