A Jackson County man’s low-key weekly lottery ritual just turned into a seven-figure surprise in Michigan Center.
The 48-year-old winner, who asked to stay anonymous, scored a $1 million prize on the $50 Millionaire Maker scratch-off after buying his usual ticket at Lakeside Convenience Store in Michigan Center. He chose a one-time lump-sum payout of about $693,000 and says he plans to stash the cash for retirement.
He told lottery officials he scratched the "Your Numbers" section first, spotted the number 44 with "$1MIL" underneath, then realized 44 matched one of the winning numbers. According to CBS Detroit, his first thought was simple and stunned: "This can't be real!" He has been buying one Millionaire Maker ticket every week since the game launched.
The lucky ticket came from Lakeside Convenience Store at 506 5th Street, a seemingly unassuming neighborhood stop that has developed a reputation for high-dollar winners. Lottery records shared with WILX show the store has sold multiple six-figure winning tickets in recent years. After the big reveal, the player headed to Michigan Lottery headquarters to officially claim his prize.
Millionaire Maker game details
Millionaire Maker hit Michigan in September 2025, and it has been quietly churning out serious payouts ever since. Each ticket costs $50 and comes with prize tiers that climb all the way to a $6 million top prize, according to the Michigan Lottery’s winner posts.
The game has already shelled out big money. The state has paid more than roughly $78 million in prizes since Millionaire Maker debuted, CBS Detroit reports. The Lottery’s online posts also track how many top and mid-tier prizes are still in play for anyone thinking about trying their luck.
As for this Jackson County winner, he is not talking about sports cars or beach houses. He told officials he plans to tuck the money away for retirement, according to WILX. The Michigan Lottery, for its part, continues to remind players to confirm any supposed winnings through official channels and to be on guard for prize scams, as outlined in its consumer advisories.
