Mich. Man Thought He Won $30K in Lottery Scratch-Off Game. It Turned Out to Be $300K

Mar. 15, 2025

Michigan Lottery logo, Speedway gas station.Photo:Michigan Lottery; Ron Adar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty

Michigan Lottery; Ron Adar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty

A Michigan man’s Christmas came a little early after he won a local lottery game that was a lot more than he initially expected.The 56-year-old winner, who has elected to remain anonymous, turned a routine coffee run into earning $300,000 when he purchased a ticket for the Michigan Lottery’s Make It Rein game.“I stopped at the gas station to get coffee and an instant ticket like I have done every day for the past eight years,” the winner toldlottery officials.His ticket was purchased in Livonia, and he originally thought that the winning amount was far lower.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Make It Rein lottery ticket.Michigan Lottery“I scratched the ticket when I got back to my car, and thought I’d won $30,000," he said. “I spent the next half hour looking the ticket over, until I finally went into the store to double check it.”“After the clerk scanned it, he handed it back and told me I didn’t scratch off all the zeros,” he continued. “That’s when I realized I’d actually won $300,000.““I couldn’t believe it!” he said.As for what he plans to do with his winnings, the man said that he will spread the wealth between himself and his family: He’ll get a new car, put some away for his children’s college funds and invest what’s left.The newly-launched Make It Rein game, which was unveiled to the public in October, has since had winners claim $4 million in prizes, the Michigan Lottery said.

A Michigan man’s Christmas came a little early after he won a local lottery game that was a lot more than he initially expected.

The 56-year-old winner, who has elected to remain anonymous, turned a routine coffee run into earning $300,000 when he purchased a ticket for the Michigan Lottery’s Make It Rein game.

“I stopped at the gas station to get coffee and an instant ticket like I have done every day for the past eight years,” the winner toldlottery officials.

His ticket was purchased in Livonia, and he originally thought that the winning amount was far lower.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Make It Rein lottery ticket.Michigan Lottery

Michigan Lottery

“I scratched the ticket when I got back to my car, and thought I’d won $30,000,” he said. “I spent the next half hour looking the ticket over, until I finally went into the store to double check it.”

“After the clerk scanned it, he handed it back and told me I didn’t scratch off all the zeros,” he continued. “That’s when I realized I’d actually won $300,000.”

“I couldn’t believe it!” he said.

As for what he plans to do with his winnings, the man said that he will spread the wealth between himself and his family: He’ll get a new car, put some away for his children’s college funds and invest what’s left.

The newly-launched Make It Rein game, which was unveiled to the public in October, has since had winners claim $4 million in prizes, the Michigan Lottery said.

source: people.com