An Oakland County man won a $429,249 Fantasy 5 jackpot from the Michigan Lottery on April Fools’ Day, turning what many see as a joke into a big win.
The 63-year-old player, who chose to remain anonymous, matched the winning numbers—09, 14, 21, 35, and 36—in the April 1 drawing. He purchased the ticket online at MichiganLottery.com.
“I’ve been playing the Lottery for years and try different games both online and in stores,” he said. “I bought the ticket on April 1 but didn’t check the numbers until the next day. When I saw I won the jackpot, I thought it was an April Fools’ prank. I was so happy when I called the Lottery and confirmed the prize was real!”
The winner recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim his prize. He plans to use the money to pay bills and buy a new car for his wife.
Fantasy 5 tickets cost $1 each. Players can add EZmatch for an extra $1 per play, which offers a chance to win up to $500 instantly. Another $1 per play adds Double Play, giving a second chance to win up to $110,000 in a nightly drawing. The Fantasy 5 game draws five numbers from 1 to 39, and players who match all five win a jackpot that starts at $100,000.
