Greensboro man hyperventilates after winning $735,645 lottery jackpot

Edward Young of Greensboro turned a $1 Quick Pick into a $735,645 Cash 5 jackpot, but the real headline for many Guilford County readers is the payout after taxes: $529,738. The windfall landed in a city that has seen several sizable lottery wins in recent years, yet a prize this large still stands out because it can change a household’s finances in one stroke.

Young bought the ticket for the June 2 Cash 5 drawing through Online Play on the NC Lottery website or mobile app. He said he only plays the lottery about five times a year, but decided to try after seeing the jackpot climb. When he realized he had won, Young said, “I was hyperventilating.”

The odds of matching all five balls in Cash 5 are 1 in 962,598, which helps explain why a win like Young’s is unusual even in a county that has produced a string of notable prizes. Greensboro players have also recently claimed a $435,915 Cash 5 jackpot in August 2025, a $200,000 win in March 2026 and a $160,756 jackpot in August 2024.

Young claimed his prize Tuesday at NC Lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He said the timing felt especially meaningful because he will turn 76 on Thursday and his 40th wedding anniversary is coming up. He said he plans to use the money to help his family.

Cash 5 is one of six North Carolina lottery games available online as well as at retail locations. The June 2 jackpot had reached $731,000 before Young’s win, then reset to $100,000 after the claim. By the June 10 drawing, the jackpot stood at $130,000, keeping the game rolling for the next round of buyers chasing the same kind of sudden, local fortune.