A Michigan man recently came tantalizingly close to clinching the grand prize in the state’s Fantasy 5 lottery game. Hitting four out of five numbers, he earned a modest $100, though the 53-year-old Macomb County resident admitted feeling “bummed” about missing the big jackpot by just one number.
Undeterred, he decided to test his luck again the following day with another entry in the same game. For the July 27 drawing, he successfully matched all the winning numbers: 02-05-17-21-30. Post-drawing, he received an email notifying him of a $1 win. But a subsequent email directed him to log into his lottery account for further details. When he did, he was stunned to see $795,905 pending in his account.
“My first thought was that it was a scam,” the unnamed man recalled in a statement released last week. “Now that I am at the lottery office claiming my prize, it’s starting to hit me that this is real.”
He had purchased the lucky ticket online through the MichiganLottery.com website. With plans to invest his newfound fortune, the winner couldn’t hide his excitement.
The Michigan Lottery’s Fantasy 5 game, a favorite of the winner, draws players who select five numbers between 1 and 39. Jackpots start at a minimum of $100,000, and drawings are held daily at 7:29 p.m. A ticket costs $1, with additional features like EZmatch and Double Play available for an extra dollar each, offering increased chances and higher prize options.
Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli emphasized the convenience of online ticket purchases for those unable to visit a retailer. The convenience paid off handsomely for this recent winner.
Earlier this year, Michigan celebrated another major lottery victory. On New Year’s Day, a single Powerball ticket sold in Michigan matched all five white balls and the red Powerball, landing an impressive $842.4 million jackpot. The winners, a trio who dubbed themselves the “Breakfast Club,” purchased their ticket at the Food Castle in Grand Blanc, approximately 60 miles north of Detroit. They have chosen to remain anonymous.
