A last-minute decision to stop and buy a Lucky for Life ticket gave a Genesee County man a lifelong windfall: he won $25,000 a year playing the Lucky for Life game for life!
Matthew Russell of Fenton won the top prize when his Lucky For Life ticket matched the five white balls of June 30: 06-09-12-24-32. He purchased his winning ticket at Hartland AC Holdings LLC, 10440 Highland Road in Hartland. Hartland is about 50 miles east of Lansing.
“I wasn’t planning on playing Lucky for Life that day, but I drove past the store on the way home and decided at the last minute to stop and buy a ticket,” Russell said. “The next day I called the Michigan Lottery winning numbers hotline and when they read all my numbers I shouted, ‘Sure!’ I was instantly stunned and I still am weeks later!”
“Part of the fun of playing the lottery is that you never know when or where you might be able to buy a big prize,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “As Matthew discovered, a last-minute, spontaneous stop can lead to a life-changing win. Congratulations to Matthew on his big win!”
Russell, 57, recently visited lottery headquarters to claim his winnings. He opted to receive his winnings as a one-time lump sum payment of $390,000 rather than an annuity payment of $25,000 per year for 20 years or for life, whichever is greater. He plans to save his winnings and use them as a financial cushion for retirement.
Lucky For Life has brought exceptional luck to lottery players this year. Players have won 10 times more money on Lucky For Life than ever before in 2024. The big wins have been on:
- February 20, with a ticket purchased at Borders Corner Store, 7024 East Pickard Road in Mount Pleasant. This prize was picked up by a woman from Flushing.
- March 12, with a ticket purchased online at MichiganLottery.with. This award was won by a woman from Escanaba.
- March 23, with a lot purchased at Value Center Market, 27428 6 Mile Road in Livonia. This prize was claimed by a woman from Redford Township.
- March 25, with a ticket purchased online at MichiganLottery.with. This prize was claimed by a man from Flushing.
- March 26, with a lot purchased at Merriman Drugs, 31320 5 Mile Road in Livonia. This prize has yet to be claimed.
- April 17, with a ticket purchased online at MichiganLottery.with. This award was won by a woman from Detroit.
- April 19, with a ticket purchased at Hub Sports Bistro, 16780 21 Mile Road in Macomb Township. This prize was claimed by a Macomb man.
- April 29, with a ticket purchased at Morning Fresh Bakeries, 3223 North Adrian Highway in Adrian. This prize was claimed by a woman from Lenawee County.
- May 16, with a ticket purchased at the Shell gas station, 11541 East 15 Mile Road in Sterling Heights. This prize was recently claimed by a Sterling Heights woman.
- June 30, with a ticket purchased at Hartland AC Holdings LLC, 10440 Highland Road in Hartland.
For just $2 per play, Lucky For Life offers lottery players the chance to win prizes ranging from $3 to cash for life. To win the game’s top prize of $1,000 a day for life, players must match all five winning numbers from 1 to 48, plus one Lucky Ball from 1 to 18. Players who match all five winning numbers but not the Lucky Ball win $25,000 a year for life. Drawings are held seven days a week at 10:38 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at lottery retailers across the state and online at. MichiganLottery.com.
