Unclaimed $25K a year-for-life winning ticket nears deadline

Somewhere out there, a lucky Michigan Lottery player is sitting on a ticket worth $25,000 a year for life — and they might not even know it! With just one month left before this life-changing prize expires, lottery officials are urging everyone to check their pockets, junk drawers, and glove compartments. Could you be the mystery winner who's unknowingly holding onto a golden ticket?

Unclaimed Lucky for Life ticket

In 2024, the Michigan Lottery saw 14 lucky winners in the Lucky for Life draw game. All 14 of these winners matched the five winning white balls but missed out on matching the Lucky Ball to win the second prize of $25,000 a year for life.

Now, lottery officials in Michigan are urging players to check their Lucky for Life tickets, as one of those winners has yet to come forward to claim their winnings, and their prize is about to expire in one month.

The winning ticket that remains unclaimed took place during the March 26, 2024, drawing. The winning numbers that night were 18, 25, 34, 39, and 48, with the Lucky Ball being 12. The winning ticket was purchased at Merriman Drugs, located at 31250 5 Mile Road in Livonia.

Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli said:

“One month remains for the lucky winner of a $25,000 a year for life Lucky For Life prize to come forward. I urge everyone who may have bought a Lucky For Life ticket at Merriman Drugs in Livonia to double-check their tickets to make sure they aren't overlooking a big winner.”

Claiming your prize

Lucky for Life tickets are valid for one year from the date of the drawing. That means this prize must be claimed by 4:45 p.m. ET on March 26, 2025.

If you happen to be holding onto this winning ticket, lottery officials said you should contact the Lottery's Player Relations division at 844-917-6325 to schedule an appointment to collect your winnings. This prize must be claimed at the lottery's headquarters in Lansing.

If no one steps up and claims this prize before the ticket expires, the money will go to the state School Aid Fund.

Other prizes that need to be claimed

This isn't the only lottery prize sitting unclaimed. Across the country, other winning tickets are gathering dust, with the lucky winners possibly losing out on transforming their lives with these lottery wins.

Here's a look at some other big, unclaimed prizes still up for grabs nationwide:

• A $250,000 Powerball ticket purchased in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, for the March 11, 2024, drawing. The winning ticket matched four of the winning white ball numbers and the Powerball, which were 1, 3, 7, 16, and 66, and Powerball of 5, to win the $50,000 prize. However, the Power Play was 5X, which increased the winning ticket to $250,000. The winning ticket was purchased at Kroger #656, located in Bloomfield Hills. The ticket will expire after 4:45 p.m. ET on March 11, 2025, if no one claims it in time.
• A $1M Mega Millions ticket purchased in Branson, Missouri, for the October 25, 2024, drawing. The winning ticket matched all of the winning white ball numbers, which were 23, 26, 35, 41, and 43, and Mega Ball of 7, to win the $1 million prize. The winning ticket was purchased at The Pantry, located at 164 Fall Creek Drive in Branson. The ticket will expire on April 23, 2025, if no one claims it in time.
• A $1M Mega Millions ticket purchased in Kansas City, Missouri, for the November 15, 2024, drawing. The winning ticket matched all of the winning white ball numbers, which were 5, 17, 35, 55, and 69, and the Mega Ball of 19, to win the $1 million prize. The winning ticket was purchased at QuikTrip, located at 10150 N.E. Cookingham Road in Kansas City. The ticket will expire on May 14, 2025, if no one claims it in time.

Enjoy playing the Michigan Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.