LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA: Zachary Sharpe, a lottery winner, has expressed his gratitude to rapper Post Malone his surprise $100,000 windfall. Sharpe attended a Post Malone concert in Charlotte on July 29, which was marred by a delay caused by adverse weather conditions. Sharpe on the way back from the concert, stopped at a Sheetz convenience store in Lexington. There, Sharpe decided to purchase a couple of lottery tickets and began scratching them.
'One of the best days of my life'
"It was a wonderful day," Sharpe shared with lottery officials. "One of the best days of my life. He (Post Malone) puts on a wonderful show. However, thunderstorm clouds brewed up above, and severe rain delayed the performance." The storm caused Sharpe, who came with his wife and kids, to drive back much later than originally planned. The family stopped at a Sheetz convenience store located in Lexington to "use the restroom," said Sharpe. "I think about all of the factors that played into when I got to that store," Sharpe said. "It was the perfect storm. We stopped so they could use the restroom, and I bought a couple of tickets and started scratching."
Who is Zachary Sharpe?
Zachary Sharpe is the Thomasville resident who won a $100,000 scratch-off prize from the North Carolina Lottery. Following Sharpe's win, 12 out of 16 available second-tier prizes of $100,000 remain. There are also five out of six top prizes of $4 million and 28 out of 32 third-tier prizes of $30,000 left to claim in the game, which launched in June.
The first ticket won Sharpe $300, and to his surprise, the second one was a 'Black Titanium' game ticket that gifted him the life-changing prize of $100,000. Sharpe described his reaction upon discovering the win as "literally speechless" and feeling like he could pass out.
"When I scratched it off, I about passed out," Sharpe said. "I was literally speechless. We all were." The prize was claimed at the North Carolina Lottery headquarters in Raleigh on Monday, and Sharpe expressed his appreciation to Post Malone, acknowledging the concert as the serendipitous catalyst for his extraordinary lottery luck. After taxes, Sharpe took home $71,259, which he said he’ll put toward school payments, bills and savings.