'Hey, that's me!': Michigan man hits big playing Lucky for Life

We would be pacing, too!

Todd Betzold

News writer

Published Oct 02, 2024, 20:15 EDT

After discovering he won $25,000 a year for life playing Lucky for Life from the Michigan Lottery, a Michigan man found himself pacing the house!

Winning for a lifetime

The big win came during the September 23 Lucky for Life drawing. The winning white ball numbers for that drawing were 1, 21, 24, 27, and 48, and the Lucky Ball was 18.

Carl Cooper of Clio bought the winning ticket from Ernie's Beer & Wine, located at 13167 North Saginaw Road in Clio.

Cooper told lottery officials:

I started playing Lucky for Life a few years ago, and every time I play, I use this set of numbers. I checked my ticket the morning after the drawing and was excited after matching the first three numbers. When I matched two more, I thought maybe I won $5,000. When I looked at the prize table and saw it was a prize of $25,000 a year for life, I started pacing the house and couldn't stop!

The pacing continued, and Cooper said he turned on the news to “try and calm down,” but that definitely didn't help. He turned on the news, and they were talking about a Lucky for Life winning ticket being sold in Clio, and he yelled at the screen, “Hey, that's me!” He said winning this prize has been a “surreal experience.”

Michigan Lottery win streak

The Michigan Lottery has seen some big wins in 2024 for Lucky for Life players.

Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli said:

Players have cashed in playing Lucky For Life in 2024! With 13 players winning life-changing prizes of $25,000 a year for life, Lucky For Life has had an incredible impact on winners this year and has been one of the luckiest games for our players.

Cooper, 67, happens to be one of those 13 players. He recently made his way to lottery headquarters and chose to receive his winnings as a one-time lump sum payment of $390,000 instead of the annuity payments of $25,000 a year for 20 years or life, whichever is greater.

With the winnings in hand, Cooper said he plans on buying a new snow blower and then just saving the remainder.

Big wins playing Lucky for Life in 2024

Cooper is the 13th lucky player to win the $25,000 a year for life prize playing Lucky for Life this year. These 13 big wins took place on:

February 20 - Winning ticket purchased at Borders Corner Store, located at 7024 East Pickard Road in Mount Pleasant, and claimed by a Flushing woman.
March 12 - Winning ticket purchased online at the Michigan Lottery website and claimed by a woman in Escanaba.
March 23 - Winning ticket purchased at the Value Center Market, located at 27428 6 Mile Road in Livonia, and claimed by a Redford Township woman.
March 25 - Winning ticket purchased online at the Michigan Lottery website and claimed by a Flushing man.
March 26 - Winning ticket purchased at Merriman Drugs, located at 31320 5 Mile Road in Livonia. This prize has yet to be claimed.
April 17 - Winning ticket purchased online at the Michigan Lottery website and claimed by a woman in Detroit.
April 19 - Winning ticket purchased at Hub Sports Bistro, located at 16780 21 Mile Road in Macomb Township, and claimed by a Macomb man.
April 29 - Winning ticket purchased at Morning Fresh Bakeries, located at 3223 North Adrian Highway in Adrian. The prize was claimed by a Lenawee County woman.
May 16 - Winning ticket purchased at the Shell gas station, located at 11541 East 15 Mile Road in Sterling Heights. Claimed by a Sterling Heights woman.
June 30 - Winning ticket purchased at Hartland AC Holdings LLC, located at 10440 Highland Road in Hartland. The prize was claimed by a Fenton man.
September 22 - Winning ticket purchased at the Sunshine Liquor Shop, located at 27342 Joy Road in Redford. This prize has yet to be claimed.
September 23 - Cooper's big win mentioned above!
September 27 - Winning ticket purchased at Lakeview Market, located at 9775 Elizabeth Lake Road in White Lake. This prize has yet to be claimed.