In a last-minute decision, a 57-year-old Genesee County man won $25,000 a year for life.
Matthew Russell of Fenton purchased a Michigan Lottery Lucky For Life ticket to get the money, the Michigan Lottery Commission said in a news release Friday. He won the prize when his ticket had the five white balls drawn on June 30. The winning numbers were 6, 9, 12, 24 and 32.
Russell 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 my way home and decided at the last minute to stop and buy a ticket,” Russell said in Friday’s press release. “The next day, I called the Michigan Lottery winning numbers hotline, and when they read all my numbers, I shouted, ‘Sure!’ I immediately felt numb, and I’m still feeling that way weeks later.”
Russell recently visited Michigan 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, the press release said.
He plans to save his winnings and use them as a cushion for his retirement.
“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 Michigan 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.”
Lucky For Life has been “extraordinarily lucky” for Michigan Lottery players this year, according to Shkreli, with players winning ten times more money on Lucky For Life than ever before in 2024.
For $2 per play, Lucky For Life gives players the chance to win prizes ranging from $3 to a lifetime cash amount.
To win the game’s top prize of $1,000 per day per lifetime, 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 per year for life. Drawings take place seven days a week at 10:38 p.m.
Michigan offers a toll-free, 24-hour gambling addiction hotline at 1-800-270-7117. For additional resources, visit Michigan.gov/mgcb.
The National Council on Problem Gambling operates the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network at 1-800-GAMBLER.
The Network is a national access point to local resources for people seeking help with a gambling problem. The Network has 28 contact centers that provide resources and referrals for all 50 states and U.S. territories. Help is available 24/7 and is 100% confidential.
Help is also available through an online peer support forum at GamTalk.org.
