(WWJ) — An Oakland County woman is $4 million richer after winning a massive prize on a Michigan Lottery ticket that she received as a gift.
The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, says her dad bought her a ticket for the new $150,000,000 Spectacular instant game “just because.”
“I was surprised when he handed it to me, and I asked him why he bought it for me. He said it was a ‘just because gift,’ which I thought was really nice of him,” she said.
When she scratched it off, she said she was “stunned to see that it was a $4 million winner.”
“I had so many emotions going through my body. I screamed. I cried. I was and still am shocked I won $4 million,” she said, according to a Michigan Lottery press release.
The winning ticket was bought at Light House Liquor on West 9 Mile Road in Oak Park. The 26-year-old winner recently visited Michigan Lottery Headquarters to claim the prize.
Lottery officials say the woman chose to receive her prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $2.7 million rather than annuity payments for the full amount.
“Winning $4 million is life changing for anyone, but especially for this young woman who is only 26 years old,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “She will be able to use this prize to positively impact her life for many years to come.”
The woman said she plans to save her winnings.
The Michigan Lottery says players have won more than $18 million playing the $150,000,000 Spectacular game, which launched last December. Each $30 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $50 up to $4 million. More than $153 million in prizes remain, including two $4 million top prizes, 20 $10,000 prizes, and 1,007 $1,000 prizes, according to the lottery.