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Dad advice wins big: Lotto 47 player scores $7.19 million jackpot

Talk about a Father's Day gift that keeps on giving!

The Michigan Lottery and the Lotto 47 logos on a blue background.
Samantha Herscher

A Wayne County, Michigan, man recently walked away with a life-changing sum, all thanks to his dad's sage advice.

The lucky player, who prefers to remain anonymous, listened to his father's suggestion to stick with a chosen set of numbers. This loyalty to his dad's wisdom turned out to be a winning strategy, landing him the biggest prize ever awarded through the Michigan Lottery website – a $7.19 million Lotto 47 jackpot!

The 38-year-old winner said:

I have been playing Lotto 47 for a long time and would always switch up my number. One day, my dad told me I should pick a set of numbers and stick with them, so that's what I did. I purchased an online subscription and have been playing the same set of numbers for a few years.

One ordinary day, an email notification from the Lottery alerted him to a prize. After logging into his account, his jaw dropped – a life-altering $7.19 million was waiting for him!

He said:

I was in total shock and instantly thought how my dad had been right!

The winner claimed his prize at the Michigan Lottery headquarters, opting for a lump sum payout of about $4.9 million instead of receiving the winnings in smaller installments over time. 

With his newfound financial security, he plans to invest a portion of the money and ensure his children's college education is fully funded.

The still-astounded player said:

Winning feels surreal. It hasn't quite sunk in yet that I'm a millionaire!

This record-breaking win extends far beyond the lucky player himself.

As the Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli highlighted:

This record-setting Lotto 47 jackpot win comes with an incredible story.

Proceeds from the Michigan Lottery directly support public education programs throughout the state. This win contributes to what's projected to be the sixth consecutive year where lottery contributions surpass $1 billion for public education.

How to play and win big on Lotto 47

Lotto 47 offers an exciting chance to win a jackpot that starts at $1 million and keeps growing until someone claims it. For just $1 per play, you choose six numbers from a pool ranging from 1 to 47. To double your winning opportunities, add Double Play to your ticket for an extra dollar. This gives a chance to win up to $1.5 million in a separate drawing held after each regular Lotto 47 drawing.

For an additional $1 per game, you can add EZMatch to your ticket. This gives you the possibility of winning up to $500 on the spot.

Lotto 47 drawings are held twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7:29 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at authorized retailers or online until 7:08 p.m. on drawing days.

Enjoy the Michigan Lottery, and please play responsibly.

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