A North Carolina College Student Went Inside for a Gas Receipt and Walked Out With a $2 Million Powerball Ticket

HARRISBURG, N.C., Nov. 8, 2026 — Bram Dunehew just wanted a receipt. The pump at Sam's Mart on N.C. 49 would not print one, so the Concord college student walked inside. He came out with a $3 Powerball ticket that turned into $2 million.

Dunehew had filled his tank the day before Halloween when the printer quit on him, UPI reported. He went in to get a copy of the receipt, and while he was at the counter he picked up a ticket for Saturday night's drawing, with the Power Play option added on.

The Halloween drawing paid off. His numbers matched all five white balls, good for $1 million, and Power Play doubled the prize to $2 million, the News & Observer reported. The odds of hitting all five white balls are about 1 in 11.6 million, WCNC noted.

"It's crazy because I never would have even bought that ticket if the receipt printed outside," Dunehew said. "I think Halloween's now my favorite holiday. Trick or treating was fun as a kid but this is insane."

He also told lottery officials the whole thing was "absolutely preposterous" and that he "fell over" when he saw the ticket, the News & Observer reported. He claimed the prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh and took home $1,440,201 after federal and state taxes were withheld.

A chunk of the money is already spoken for. Dunehew said he plans to buy his father a Cadillac.