Persistence Pays Off: Michigan Man Wins Record Lotto 47 Jackpot After Two Decades of Playing

The Long-Awaited Jackpot Win

Imagine faithfully playing the same lottery numbers for 20 years and then one day, your persistence finally pays off. That's exactly what happened to a Michigan man who recently claimed the largest Lotto 47 jackpot in history, a staggering $32.91 million! The 73-year-old winner, who chose to remain anonymous, has been playing the same sets of numbers for two decades. His unwavering commitment to those numbers ultimately led him to this life-changing win.

"For 20 years, I've been playing Lotto 47 and always used the same sets of numbers," shared the ecstatic winner with the Michigan Lottery. "When I checked my ticket, I noticed that I matched three numbers and thought, 'Well, at least I got $5 back.' But when I saw that I matched all six numbers, I couldn't believe my eyes! It took several checks before it finally sunk in."

A Twist of Fate at Wild Bills Tobacco

The winning ticket was purchased from Wild Bills Tobacco situated on Gratiot Avenue in Chesterfield, a short drive from Detroit. The winning combination for the December 13th draw comprised of his trusted numbers 2, 3, 12, 15, 16, and 33. Interestingly enough, another line on his ticket also won him a small prize with a different number combination. However, that win was merely spare change compared to his jackpot victory.

"I called my children right after confirming the win, but they didn't believe me initially. They had to come over and see the ticket for themselves," the winner explained. "The excitement was overwhelming! You never expect to win such a massive prize, so it still feels surreal."

Claiming the Prize and Future Plans

The lucky winner recently claimed his prize at the Lottery headquarters in Lansing. Opting for a one-time lump sum payment, he received approximately $22.8 million instead of annuity payments for the full amount. Despite the enormity of this windfall, his plans for utilizing his winnings are refreshingly practical.

His first plan? To buy a new pair of shoes. "Honestly, the first thing on my list is just treating myself to a new pair of shoes," he said chucklingly. "I also plan to share some of my winnings with my family and get a new car."

This monumental $32.91 million win surpasses the previous Lotto 47 record of $32.3 million that was split between two winning tickets in November 2020. It seems that sometimes, persistence really does pay off!