A Calhoun County man says he "can breathe again" after discovering a Michigan Lottery scratch-off ticket was a $1 million winner. The 46-year-old, who asked to remain anonymous, recently visited Lottery headquarters in Lansing to claim the prize.
According to ClickOnDetroit, the ticket came from the Millionaire Maker instant game and was purchased at Lakeview Liquor in Battle Creek. He chose the one-time lump-sum payout of about $693,000 before taxes instead of taking the full annuity.
His Reaction And Next Moves
As WKZO reports, the winner said he does not play often but scratched the ticket after work and "freaked out" when he realized he had hit a top prize. He told lottery officials the win "feels like I can breathe again" and said he plans to buy a new car and save the rest of the payout.
The Millionaire Maker Game
The Millionaire Maker instant game, which launched in September 2025, offers big top prizes and multiple $1 million payouts and includes second-chance promotions for non-winning tickets, according to WNEM. That prize structure means players frequently weigh annuity versus lump-sum options when claiming large wins.
The ticket was sold at Lakeview Liquor in Battle Creek, and the winner's request to stay anonymous was honored, WKZO notes. For now, the seven-figure scratch-off is one more hometown story in what has already been a busy year for Michigan Lottery million-dollar winners.
