Great Lakes Wire

A routine morning stop for coffee turned into a remarkable day for a Genesee County resident who won $1 million playing the Michigan Lottery's $46,000,000 Payout instant game. The man, who preferred to remain anonymous, recounted his habit of buying lottery tickets every Friday with modest hopes of winning or breaking even.

“I buy lottery tickets every Friday,” said the winning player. “I never expect to win the top prize, but I always hope to win a few dollars or at least break even."

He shared how his unexpected win came about, stating, “It was early in the morning, so I stopped at the gas station to buy a coffee and a lottery ticket. I scratched the ticket when I got in my car and had to scan it at least five times to make sure I was reading it right after I saw I had won $1 million! This prize is life-changing and is going to give me opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise had.”

Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli commented on the event, noting, “What started as a normal day for this lucky player quickly turned to a life-changing one when a stop for coffee led him to winning a $1 million prize. It is heartwarming to hear that this prize will not only have a positive impact on the player, but his good fortune will also help others with his plans to start a nonprofit.”

The winner, aged 45, acquired the winning ticket at Admiral Petroleum on Miller Road in Swartz Creek. Upon claiming his prize at the Lottery headquarters, he opted for a one-time lump sum payment of approximately $694,000. His plans for the winnings include purchasing a new car, founding a nonprofit, and furthering his education.

Since its launch earlier this month, players have won over $4 million in the $46,000,000 Payout game. Each $10 ticket can win prizes ranging from $10 to $1 million, with more than $47 million in prizes left, including two $1 million top prizes and 1,058 $1,000 prizes.

In the previous year, players won close to $1.8 billion from instant games. These can be purchased from retailers across Michigan.