The lucky player, who asked to remain anonymous, has a tradition of buying a Fantasy 5 ticket every Monday while running errands. But this time, he completely forgot to check it.
The next day, he was helping his daughter clean up after a powerful storm caused a tree to crash into her home. During the cleanup, she joked, "This would be a great time to win the lottery." That simple comment reminded him the ticket was still sitting in his pocket.
He opened the Michigan Lottery app, scanned the ticket, and was stunned.
Jackpot winner!
"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," he said. "It was unbelievable."
The winning ticket matched all five numbers — 13, 16, 26, 28, and 37 — from the July 6, 2026, Fantasy 5 drawing, earning him a jackpot worth $244,498. He purchased the ticket at Little Mack Beer & Wine in St. Clair Shores.
What's next for the winner?
- 💰 He plans to save the prize money.
- 🎉 A regular weekly tradition turned into a life-changing payday.
Michigan has seen some impressive lottery wins over the years. One of the biggest came in June 2024, when the Breakfast Club lottery club claimed an $842 million Mega Millions jackpot. The group said they planned to buy a home in Florida and enjoy traveling.
Lottery officials also remind players to check their tickets promptly. In 2024, a $250,000 Powerball prize sold in Bloomfield Hills was never claimed, and the money was eventually transferred to Michigan's School Aid Fund.
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