A Michigan lottery player has until March 11, 2025, to claim a $250,000 Powerball prize won during the March 11, 2024 drawing, according to Michigan Lottery officials.
The ticket, sold at a Kroger in Bloomfield Hills, matched four white balls and the red Powerball. The winner also selected the Power Play option, which boosted the usual $50,000 prize to five times that amount—$250,000.
The winning numbers that night were 1, 3, 7, 16, 66, and Powerball 5, with a 5X Power Play multiplier. Only about seven players nationwide won the $250,000 prize by matching 4 + Powerball and choosing Power Play, according to Powerball.net.
Under Michigan Lottery rules, prizes over $100,000 must be claimed in person at the state lottery headquarters in Lansing. Before that, the winner must sign the back of their ticket and validate it at an authorized lottery retailer, such as the Kroger where it was purchased.
Once at headquarters, the winner must choose how to receive the money—either a lump sum or annuity payments spread out over time.
Experts have long debated the best option. Some financial advisors argue annuity payments help winners avoid spending the money too quickly. Others prefer the lump sum for its investment potential, despite the immediate tax hit.
If the winner chooses a lump sum, they’ll face a 24% federal tax and a 4.25% Michigan state tax. That would reduce the $250,000 prize by about $70,625, leaving roughly $179,375.
If no one claims the prize by the March 2025 deadline, the funds will go to Michigan’s School Aid Fund.
This case is one of several large unclaimed lottery prizes nationwide. A $2 million Mega Millions ticket sold in northeastern Ohio remains without a winner, and Louisiana officials are trying to locate the holder of a $50,000 ticket before the claim period ends.
Lottery officials urge players to check old tickets and act before their chance to claim life-changing prizes slips away.
