A North Carolina lottery player started the new year off a winner after claiming a big jackpot prize, lottery officials said. Gary Thomas won $496,217 when he matched all five numbers in the Dec. 1 drawing of the Carolina Cash 5 game, the North Carolina Education Lottery said in a Jan. 3 news release.

The players bought Carolina Cash 5 game tickets that matched all the numbers picked in the drawings on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, meaning each one was worth six figures, the N.C. Education Lottery wrote on its website and in an email to McClatchy News.

One lucky lottery player is starting the new year off with a bang after their ticket landed them a massive win. When someone wins the lottery, especially if it's a life-changing sum like $1 million or more,

A Powerball ticket sold in California won $32,644, but just missed the $181 million jackpot, lottery officials say. The ticket matched four winning numbers and the Powerball in the drawing Wednesday, Jan. 1, the California Lottery said.

Just won millions in the lottery? Congratulations! Here's what to do — and more importantly, not to do — to avoid making some very big mistakes.