A Wayne County resident experienced a life-changing moment after discovering a $100,000 Powerball prize in his Michigan Lottery account following the October 21 drawing.
Leslie Merrell, a 63-year-old from Woodhaven, matched four white balls and the Powerball — 01-25-57-62-64, PB: 15 — earning an initial $50,000 prize. Thanks to the Power Play feature, his winnings doubled to an impressive $100,000. Merrell purchased his winning ticket online via the Michigan Lottery website.
“I had won a small amount playing online instant games, so I used that to buy a few Powerball tickets,” Merrell shared. “When I saw an email from the Lottery, I didn’t think much of it. But logging into my account the next morning, I couldn’t believe my eyes—there were so many zeros! I thought, ‘Is this even real?’”
Merrell recently visited Michigan Lottery headquarters to claim his prize. He plans to use his windfall for home renovations, a trip out west, and saving the rest for retirement.
Players can purchase Powerball tickets for just $2 at retailers statewide or online. Adding a $1 Power Play option multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times, with a maximum of $2 million. For another $1, players can include Double Play, offering a second chance to win up to $10 million.
Powerball drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays and can be viewed live at the Powerball website. Tickets are available in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
