A 79-year-old Kalamazoo woman, Carol Bukant, won a $3 million Mega Millions prize after buying $20 worth of tickets, MLive reported. Bukant and her husband said they play the lottery occasionally when jackpots rise. “Since the jackpot was getting close to $1 billion, we decided to buy $20 worth of tickets,” she said. They first believed they had won $1 million, but the prize increased to $3 million because of a 3X multiplier, as reported by MLive.
Bukant won $3 million with the white balls 01-08-11-12-57 in the November 14 drawing. According to WZZM13, the ticket was bought at the Marathon gas station at 4421 West Centre Avenue in Portage. She said she plans to save the money.
Lottery officials said that large jackpot runs help increase sales and add more money to the School Aid Fund. Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli stated, "Carol Bukant cashed in winning $3 million during the most recent Mega Millions jackpot run where the Mega Millions jackpot reached $980 million," in an interview with Michigan Lottery Connect. Mega Millions tickets cost $5, can include multipliers for larger non-jackpot prizes, and are sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are available at local retailers and on the Michigan Lottery website.
