A Van Buren County man's casual lottery ticket purchase turned into a life-changing event when he won the Lotto 47 jackpot of $5.46 million. The 43-year-old man, who has chosen to stay anonymous, purchased the ticket from a Speedway gas station located at 3908 South Westnedge Avenue in Kalamazoo, as reported by CBS News Detroit.
On hearing the jackpot size, the lucky winner remarked to his family that the jackpot would be his. According to the winner, told Detroit Free Press, "I checked the winning numbers online that night after the drawing and recognized them instantly." In disbelief, the winning numbers were checked several times, even running out the door and down the street in his excitement, eventually shared with his wife and daughter who interpreted his excitement as the lottery win.
The man opted for the annuity payment option, which will give him about $182,000 per year for 30 years rather than a lump sum of around $3.7 million. Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli extended congratulations to the player, expressing satisfaction that the win would positively impact the winner and his family, as per a statement obtained by milotteryconnect. The retailer that sold the winning ticket will also receive a bonus commission of $5,000.
Lotto 47 tickets cost $1 each with an option to add features like Double Play for another chance to win, and EZMatch for instant prizes, stated by the Michigan Lottery. With annual payments, the man plans on taking care of his family. Drawings for Lotto 47, which start with a $1 million jackpot and grows until there's a winner, take place every Wednesday and Saturday.
