News writer, Interviewer
What would you do with $32.91 million?
A 73-year-old man from Macomb County knows exactly what he'd do. Buy a new pair of shoes.
The anonymous winner claimed Michigan's largest-ever Lotto 47 jackpot on January 9, 2026, after matching all six numbers in the December 13, 2025, drawing. His numbers? 02-03-12-15-16-33. The same numbers he's played for two decades.
Twenty years of the same numbers paid off
Consistency matters. This winner proved it by playing the same number of sets for 20 years before hitting the jackpot.
He bought his winning ticket at Wild Bill Tobacco in Chesterfield, about 35 miles north of Detroit. When he checked his ticket, he thought he'd won $5 after matching three numbers. Then he saw the rest. He recalled:
I rubbed my eyes and checked my ticket again because I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
His kids didn't believe him either. They had to see the ticket themselves.
What happens when you win a record jackpot
The winner chose the lump sum payment of $22.8 million over annuity payments. Smart or impulsive? The lump sum gives immediate access but cuts the total nearly in half.
His spending plans are modest. New shoes. A new car. Money for his family. He said:
Honestly, the first thing on my list is just treating myself to a new pair of shoes.
After 20 years of playing, that might be the most practical splurge imaginable.
How does this jackpot compare?
This $32.91 million prize breaks the previous Lotto 47 record of $32.3 million, won in November 2020 by two players who split the pot. Those tickets came from Ferndale and Lake Odessa.
The difference? This winner takes the full amount home. No splitting required.
What are the odds?
Each play costs $1. You pick six numbers from 1 to 47. The jackpot starts at $1 million and grows until someone wins.
If you want better odds, add Double Play for an extra $1 per play. That gives you a second chance to win up to $1.5 million in the nightly drawing. Or add EZMatch for another $1 to win up to $500 instantly.
Drawings happen on Wednesday and Saturday at 7:29 p.m. CT. Tickets can be purchased at retailers or online until 7:08 p.m. CT on drawing days.
Where the Michigan Lottery money goes
About 97 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets returns to Michigan. It is split between the School Aid Fund, player prizes, and vendor commissions.
In fiscal year 2025, the Lottery contributed more than $1.1 billion to Michigan public schools. That's the seventh consecutive year contributions exceeded $1 billion.
Since 1972, the Michigan Lottery has funneled more than $30 billion into public education.
Could you play the same numbers for 20 years? This winner did. And now he's buying new shoes with $22.8 million.
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