A quick stop for gas turned into a life-changing moment for one Van Buren County, Michigan dad, who snagged a whopping $5.46 million Lotto 47 jackpot.
The 43-year-old, who chose to remain anonymous, picked up his lucky ticket at a Speedway station on South Westnedge Avenue in Kalamazoo. What started as a spontaneous decision soon became an unforgettable win.
“I saw the jackpot had climbed over $5 million, and I jokingly told my family, ‘That money is going to be mine,’” the winner recalled.
His ticket matched all six winning numbers drawn on April 23: 13-25-30-35-38-46.
The shock hit fast. “I checked the numbers online, recognized them instantly, and kept rechecking because it didn’t feel real,” he said. “Once it sank in, I literally ran out the door and down the street out of pure excitement.”
His family quickly caught on. “My wife was confused, and my daughter said, ‘I think dad just won the lottery!’” he added.
The winner opted to take the prize as 30 annual payments of approximately $182,000 and says the money will be used to care for his loved ones.
Lotto 47 tickets cost $1 per play, with drawings held every Wednesday and Saturday at 7:29 p.m. Tickets are available both online and at authorized retailers until 7:08 p.m. on draw days.
