Last-minute stop leads to Lucky for Life win in Genesee County

A spur-of-the-moment decision to buy a Lucky for Life ticket turned into a life-changing win for Matthew Russell of Fenton, Genesee County.

Russell won $25,000 a year for life after his ticket matched all five white balls drawn on June 30, 2024.

“I wasn't going to play Lucky for Life that day, but I was driving by the store on my way home and decided at the last minute to stop and buy a ticket,” Russell said.

That whim paid off in a big way! The winning numbers were 06-09-12-24-32, purchased at Hartland AC Holdings LLC in Hartland.

Russell recalled, "The next day, I called the Michigan Lottery's winning number hotline, and when all my numbers were read off, I yelled, 'Heck yeah!' I instantly felt numb, and I still do weeks later!”

To highlight the thrill of unexpected wins, Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli said:

Part of what makes playing Lottery games fun is never knowing when or where you might buy a big winner. Just like Matthew found out, making a last-minute stop on a whim can lead to a life-changing win. Congratulations to Matthew on his big win!

Russell, a 57-year-old man, opted for a lump sum payment of $390,000 instead of the annual installments. He plans to use the winnings as a safety net for his retirement.

Lucky Michiganders

This year has been particularly lucky for Michigan Lottery players, with 10 Lucky for Life wins for a lifetime of cash! Here's a breakdown of the lucky dates and locations:

• February 20: Borders Corner Store, Mount Pleasant (claimed by a Flushing woman)
• March 12: Online purchase via MichiganLottery.com (claimed by an Escanaba woman)
• March 23: Value Center Market, Livonia (claimed by a Redford Township woman)
• March 25: Online purchase via MichiganLottery.com (claimed by a Flushing man)
• March 26: Merriman Drugs, Livonia (unclaimed)
• April 17: Online purchase via MichiganLottery.com (claimed by a Detroit woman)
• April 19: Hub Sports Bistro, Macomb Township (claimed by a Macomb man)
• April 29: Morning Fresh Bakeries, Adrian (claimed by a Lenawee County woman)
• May 16: Shell gas station, Sterling Heights (claimed by a Sterling Heights woman)
• June 30: Hartland AC Holdings LLC, Hartland (claimed by Matthew Russell)

For just $2 per play, Lucky for Life offers a chance to win prizes ranging from $3 to a lifetime of financial security. To win the jackpot of $1,000 a day for life, you need to match all five white balls (1-48) and the lucky ball (1-18). Matching the five white balls without the lucky ball still lands you a sweet $25,000 a year for life! Drawings happen daily at 10:38 p.m. ET.

More than just games

In 2023 alone, the Michigan Lottery contributed over $1.3 billion to Michigan public schools, marking their fifth year exceeding $1 billion. Since its launch in 1972, the Michigan Lottery has contributed a whopping $28 billion to support public education in the state.