A casual TikTok scroll turned into a life-changing payday for a 63-year-old Detroit man who says the app helped him zero in on the right scratch-off ticket, netting a $500,000 prize at a neighborhood market on West Grand River.
Grosjieon Moore told lottery officials he and his wife were working through a stack of tickets when they uncovered the half-million-dollar win. At first, they thought they were looking at $50,000. Then they counted the zeros again.
The winning ticket was a $5 "$500,000 Bonus Scratch Multiplier," bought at New Quick Stop Market on West Grand River Avenue in Detroit. Moore said he plans to hang onto the money rather than rushing out to spend it.
Winner Says TikTok Put Scratch-Offs On His Radar
Moore traced the whole windfall back to his social media scrolling. "I saw some TikTok videos of people scratching lottery tickets and winning big," he told lottery officials when he claimed his prize. His memory of that moment at home, including his wife's initial belief they were holding a $50,000 winner before realizing it was actually $500,000, was detailed by CBS Detroit.
How The Bonus Scratch Multiplier Game Works
The $500,000 Bonus Scratch Multiplier is part of a larger "Bonus Scratch Multiplier" family of instant games that the Michigan Lottery introduced in early February. According to Michigan Lottery, the $5 ticket offers a top prize of $500,000, and the full lineup of related games carries more than $28 million in total cash prizes.
The Corner Store Behind The Big Ticket
Moore's lucky ticket came from New Quick Stop Market on West Grand River Avenue. State licensing records list the business at 8059 Grand River Ave in Detroit. The store appears on the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's active food-license list, which connects that business name to the address. The listing is publicly available through the state's website and often serves as a quiet paper trail for the corner shops that occasionally sell winning tickets.
Winnings Headed For Savings, Not Splurging
While a $500,000 hit might tempt some people to make big-ticket purchases right away, Moore told lottery officials he plans to save his winnings instead, according to CBS Detroit. The Lottery typically releases brief statements from players when they claim significant instant-game prizes, offering a small glimpse into what happens after the big reveal.
Big Wins Keep Popping Up Around Metro Detroit
Half-million-dollar scratch-off wins have surfaced in multiple Michigan counties in recent years, including Wayne and Oakland, a reminder that serious money can emerge from routine gas-station stops and quick store runs. Hoodline has previously highlighted similar jackpots, such as a Wayne County woman who parlayed free lottery coupons into a $500,000 prize. For the neighborhood stores that sell those tickets, moments like Moore's win can briefly turn an everyday market into a local legend.
