A Macomb County woman's routine trip to Kroger led to a life-altering $1 million prize, thanks to the Michigan Lottery's Smokin' Hot Million instant game. According to ClickOnDetroit, the 79-year-old, who has chosen to remain anonymous, bought her winning ticket at the Kroger store on 23 Mile Road in Shelby Township.
The woman reportedly told MI Lottery Connect that she bought five of the $10 tickets after seeing a kiosk being restocked with them; later at home, when she scratched off the tickets, one presented the $1 million prize, which she couldn't grasp immediately, so she stared at it for a while and then shared the exciting news with her husband, who was skeptical until he saw the ticket himself. She then invited their kids over to surprise them with the ticket; the astonishment and joy of their discovery was palpable. Players of this game have had their share of luck, winning over $10 million since its launch in May, and as informed by Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli, Michigan Lottery players took home more than $1.7 billion playing instant games in 2024.
The lucky winner elected to take the lump sum payment option of about $693,000 over an annuity for the full amount, as stated by CBS News Detroit. Her plans for the windfall include sharing with her children, embarking on a cruise, and finding ways to pay it forward.
Smokin' Hot Million, the game that turned out to be a godsend for the woman, is not short of prizes: more than $36 million in awards are still up for the taking, and that includes two more $1 million top prizes, several $10,000 prizes, and numerous $2,000 prizes. A statement from Michigan Lottery emphasizes the series' popularity and its beneficial impact on the state's School Aid Fund. Noteworthy is that Lottery instant games are widely available at retailers across Michigan for those aspiring to replicate the Macomb County woman's success.
