Man Takes Home a Jackpot Prize of Almost $800,000 - One Day After a Near Miss
A man from Michigan is extremely lucky indeed: after he lost in the state lottery by hitting only four of the five numbers and receiving just $100 - he tried once more the next day and hit all five of the winning numbers, netting a jackpot win of $795,905.
A resident of Macomb County in Michigan had a thrilling week in July after narrowly missing the jackpot in Michigan's Fantasy 5 lottery game, only to hit the big win the very next day. The 53-year-old, whose identity remains undisclosed, went from feeling 'bummed' about a close call to becoming $795,905 richer.
Never give up, it just might be your lucky day
The man initially matched four out of five numbers in the Fantasy 5 game, earning a $100 prize. Although he was happy with the small win, he couldn't help but feel disappointed that he missed out on the larger jackpot. Determined not to let the opportunity pass him by again, he decided to try his luck once more.
On July 27, he played the same game and, this time, his numbers - 02, 05, 17, 21, and 30 - matched all five winning numbers. Initially, he received an email from the Michigan Lottery notifying him that he had won $1. But moments later, a second email arrived instructing him to log into his account to claim a prize. When he saw the amount of $795,905 pending in his account, he was in disbelief.
"My first thought was that it was a scam," the winner recalled in a statement released by the Michigan Lottery. "Now that I am at the lottery office claiming my prize, it's starting to hit me that this is real."
The winning ticket was purchased online through MichiganLottery.com. The lucky winner has plans of investing his newfound fortune, ensuring that the windfall has a lasting impact on his future.
Fantasy 5: a game of choice for Michigan players
Fantasy 5 has long been a favorite among Michigan lottery players. The game offers a straightforward format where players select five numbers from 1 to 39. Those who match all the five numbers can win a jackpot that starts at $100,000 but can grow significantly if no one wins in previous drawings.
Each Fantasy 5 ticket costs $1, with the option to add EZmatch for an additional $1. EZmatch allows players to win up to $500 instantly. For another $1, players can opt into the Double Play feature, which offers another chance to win as much as $110,000 in a Double Play drawing every night. Fantasy 5 drawings are scheduled every evening at 7:29 pm, making it a popular daily choice for lottery enthusiasts across the state.
The recent winner explained that he tends to buy Fantasy 5 tickets whenever the jackpot exceeds $250,000. Typically, he purchases his tickets in the store. However, on the night of the big win, he realized he had forgotten to buy tickets earlier in the day. He quickly logged onto the Michigan Lottery's website and purchased two tickets online - a decision that ultimately paid off in a life-changing way.
Suzanna Shkreli, the Michigan Lottery Commissioner, highlighted the convenience of buying tickets online, which allows players to participate even when they can't make it to a physical retailer. Perhaps this accessibility contributed to the man's fortunate circumstances.
But wait - there's more! Another big win in Michigan
This substantial Fantasy 5 jackpot is not the first time Michigan has seen a big lottery win this year. On New Year's Day, a lone Powerball ticket sold in Michigan matched the red Powerball and all five white balls, earning a trio of winners an $842.4 million jackpot. The winners, who have chosen to remain anonymous, are part of a group who call themselves the "Breakfast Club."
They purchased the winning Powerball ticket on January 1 in Grand Blanc, located approximately 60 miles from Detroit. The colossal win made headlines, further solidifying Michigan's reputation as a state where dreams can indeed come true.