Three decades after a coin-operated Zoltar machine in Las Vegas spit out a string of “lucky” digits, a Fraser man says those same numbers have finally paid off with a $1 million Powerball prize. Stephen Huesgen, 56, matched all five white balls in the April 22 drawing to land the game’s Match-5 payout. He told reporters he plans to wipe out his car and mortgage payments, take a vacation, and sock away the rest for retirement.
Zoltar numbers paid off
Huesgen said the numbers came from a Zoltar fortune-teller machine he tried on a Vegas trip about 30 years ago, and that he has been faithfully playing them ever since, he told CBS Detroit. The morning after the April 22 drawing, an email from the Michigan Lottery popped up in his inbox confirming the prize, and he said the news still feels a bit unreal.
“I don’t think this is going to fully hit me until I cash the check,” Huesgen told CBS Detroit, adding that the long-shot loyalty to his Zoltar digits finally paid off.
The April 22 draw that matched
According to the Detroit Free Press, the April 22 Powerball drawing produced white balls 24, 29, 32, 49, and 63, the exact combination Huesgen had played. That match landed him the $1 million Match-5 prize before taxes.
The ticket was purchased online and was registered to a player from Fraser, the outlet reported. Lottery officials noted that winners should contact the Michigan Lottery Player Relations line at 844-917-6325 to set up an appointment to claim their prize.
How Powerball plays and what it means
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, along with Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to Powerball. Drawings are held three nights a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Matching all five white balls without the red Powerball number secures the game’s fixed $1 million Match-5 prize, Powerball notes, with taxes still to be applied.
Not uncommon in Michigan
Michigan has quietly turned into fertile ground for seven-figure lottery wins, with a steady stream of big prizes claimed in recent years. Hoodline previously covered a similar $1 million Match-5 Powerball win in Union in 2024. Many regulars in the state stick with the same numbers for years, and every so often, that long-term habit hits.
Huesgen told CBS Detroit that when he saw the lottery email, he called out to his wife, “Is this real?” He expects the magnitude of the win will finally sink in when he signs the paperwork and cashes the check.
For anyone with questions about claiming a Michigan Lottery prize, the Player Relations phone number - 844-917-6325 - was highlighted in coverage by the Detroit Free Press.
