A 26-year-old woman from Oakland County, Michigan, became a millionaire after winning $4 million on a scratch-off ticket her father gave her as a surprise gift.
The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said her father handed her a $150,000,000 Spectacular instant game ticket as a “just because” gesture. “I was surprised when he handed it to me,” she said. “He told me it was just a gift, which I thought was really nice.”
Her shock turned into disbelief when she scratched the ticket and discovered it was a top-prize winner. “I screamed. I cried. I was and still am shocked I won $4 million,” she recalled.
The winning ticket was purchased at Light House Liquor on West 9 Mile Road in Oak Park, just northwest of Detroit. Following the discovery, she traveled to Michigan Lottery headquarters to claim the prize, as required for winnings of $100,000 or more.
While she could have chosen to receive the prize through annuity payments, she opted for a one-time lump sum of approximately $2.7 million.
“This win is truly life-changing, especially for someone so young,” said Suzanna Shkreli, commissioner of the Michigan Lottery. “She now has the opportunity to use this money to create a better future.”
The $150,000,000 Spectacular game launched in December 2023, offering players a chance to win between $50 and $4 million with each $30 ticket. To date, players have won more than $18 million in total from the game, and more than $153 million in prizes remain—including two $4 million jackpots.
In 2023, Michigan Lottery players won nearly $1.8 billion playing instant games. Officials continue to urge players to check their tickets, as several major prizes remain unclaimed. These include two tickets worth a combined $806,000 and a $1 million Powerball prize.
The Michigan woman’s windfall follows a growing trend of massive lottery payouts. In February 2023, California’s Edwin Castro claimed the largest jackpot in U.S. history—a staggering $2.04 billion Powerball prize.
