(WWJ) A Wayne County man is now a millionaire after buying a winning lotto ticket on a whim.
According to officials with the Michigan Lottery, the 32-year-old winner — who who chose to remain anonymous — bought a 100X instant game ticket for $20 in Canton, at Fleck's Fresh Mart on Michigan Ave near Belleville Road.
He says he doesn't usually play the game; and at first, didn't actually believe he could possibly have won that much.
“I was scratching off one of the tickets and when I saw I matched number 11 with ‘$2MIL’ underneath, I kept asking myself: ‘What does this mean?’ because I didn’t believe I really won $2 million at first.
“When my mom looked the ticket over and told me it was a $2 million winner, I was so excited I didn’t know what to do with myself! Turning $20 into $2 million is unbelievable and still doesn’t feel real. I don’t think it’s going to fully sink in until I cash the check.”
The winner chose a one-time lump sum payment — about $1.3 million — instead of collecting annuity payments for the full amount. He plans on saving his winnings.
The Michigan Lottery says players have won more than $68 million playing 100X, which launched in January. Each $20 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $20 up to $2 million. More than $34 million in prizes remain, including one $2 million top prize, eight $10,000 prizes, and 142 $2,000 prizes.
In 2024, Lottery players won nearly $1.8 billion playing instant games.
Lottery instant games may be purchased at retailers across the state.
Remember: Never gamble more than you can afford to lose. Facing a gambling problem can be overwhelming, and those who get in over their heads often feel like there's no way out. If you need help, or just want to talk to someone, call the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-270-7117.