A routine ticket check turned into a life changer for a 63-year-old North Branch woman who discovered she was holding a $3.98 million Lotto 47 jackpot. She and her husband had picked up a batch of plays at Bryan’s Market in their hometown before the Feb. 21 drawing, then went about life as usual.
That did not last long. After a family member texted to say a winning ticket had been sold at their local store, the couple pulled out their stack and fired up the Michigan Lottery app. The woman started scanning ticket after ticket until one scan flashed the kind of news people daydream about: the screen showed a $3.98 million win.
She later chose a one-time lump-sum payment of about $2.7 million and opted to remain anonymous when she claimed the prize.
How She Found Out
According to CBS News Detroit, the heads-up text from a family member came the day after the drawing, asking if the couple might be the mystery jackpot winners. That was all the prompting she needed.
She told lottery officials she kept scanning tickets on the Michigan Lottery app until the screen lit up and $3.98 million came up on the scanner, adding that she was in complete shock when she realized what had just happened.
Where The Ticket Was Sold
The single winning play matched all six numbers drawn on Feb. 21, which were 17, 25, 34, 37, 39, and 42. The winning ticket was purchased at Bryan’s Market on North Lapeer Road in North Branch, according to ClickOnDetroit.
The outlet lists the retailer’s address as 6002 N. Lapeer Road and notes that the Lotto 47 jackpot had last been hit in December by another Michigan player.
Claiming The Prize
For wins at this level, the celebration has to wait until a bit of paperwork is done. The Michigan Lottery help center says prizes of $100,000 or more must be claimed at Lottery headquarters. Winners typically have one year from the drawing date to claim their tickets.
The Lottery instructs players to call Lottery Player Relations at 844-917-6325 to set up an appointment. Claimants are reminded to bring valid photo identification and a Social Security card so the prize can be processed.
Lotto 47 Basics
Lotto 47 tickets cost $1 per play and players select six numbers from 1 to 47, with drawings held on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. The jackpot starts at $1 million and keeps climbing until someone hits all six numbers. The game also offers optional add-ons such as Double Play and EZMatch for extra chances to win, as outlined by the Midland Daily News.
The North Branch winner told officials she plans to pay bills and “live comfortably,” and that she chose the immediate lump sum instead of annuity payments, according to CBS News Detroit. Retailers and lottery officials routinely remind players to sign their tickets and check them carefully. As this winner just proved, a quick scan on the app can be the difference between tossing a slip of paper and cashing in on a multimillion-dollar surprise.
