Advertisement Acorn falls on runner's head, leads to SC lottery winner Man becomes first in SC lottery history to take annuity option Share Shares Copy Link Copy

If it weren't for an acorn, South Carolina's newest lottery winner may have never been able to cash in his prize. "One early November morning an acorn fell, hitting a Greenville County man on the head while he was out jogging," state Education Lottery officials said in a release. "He took that as a reminder to stop and buy a Lucky for Life ticket." The man, who didn't want his name released, stopped later that same day and bought his ticket on his way home from vacationing in Hilton Head. He claimed the winning Lucky for Life ticket on Monday, officials said. As a winner, he got to choose whether to take $25,000 a year for life or take a one-time cash payment of $390,000. After a lot of thought and speaking with a professional financial adviser, the Lucky for Life winner chose the annuity payout of $25,000 a year for life, officials said. "This is the first time a winner has chosen an annuity payout for any South Carolina Education Lottery game,' officials said. "Since my wife and I are retired, I like the security provided by the annuity," the winner said. "If we want to go on a vacation every now and again, or buy a fancy couch, then we can." The ticket matched the first five numbers drawn -- 6, 15, 24, 25 and 33 -- but missed the Lucky Ball number 2, in the Nov. 3 drawing. After taxes, the winner will get $17,000 a year for at least 20 years, and more if he lives longer, officials said. For selling the winning Lucky for Life ticket, the Kangaroo Express No. 3441 in Prosperity received a $3,900 commission once the prize was claimed. The odds of winning $25,000 a year for life are 1 in 1,813,028. Lucky for Life is a multistate game offered in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Tickets cost $2. with drawings on Mondays and Thursdays. In addition to the $25,000 a year for life prize, players can also win $1,000 a day for life and eight lower-tier prizes.