National

Jackpot lottery winner says she’s awaiting ‘all the extra zeroes’ in her bank account

A 56-year-old woman won $6 million in a Michigan Lottery game.
A 56-year-old woman won $6 million in a Michigan Lottery game. Getty Images/iStockphoto

A woman was in disbelief after a jackpot lottery win, so much that she needed to check its legitimacy with a Michigan store clerk.

The win — which will reward the Shiawassee County woman with millions and millions of dollars — was as real as can be.

She told Michigan Lottery officials she had been playing the $300,000,000 Diamond Riches game since it came out. The ticket she purchased at a gas station in Lapeer is one that will change her life forever.

The woman said she scratched the barcode of the ticket “right away” and received a message that she needed to file a claim when she scanned the ticket.

“When I revealed the ‘6MIL’ symbol, I was dumbfounded,” she told lottery officials. “I showed the clerk who sold me the ticket and asked if it was real. I don’t think it’s going to fully sink in until I see all the extra zeros in my bank account!”

Instead of choosing the annuity payments for the full $6 million, the 56-year-old woman opted for the one-time lump sum payment of $4.1 million, lottery officials said.

“Winning is such a blessing and couldn’t have come at a better time in my life,” the winner said.

All three $6 million prizes have now been claimed in the game, but five $50,000 prizes are remaining.

Shiawassee County is about 70 miles northwest of Detroit.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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This story was originally published October 10, 2023 at 3:20 PM with the headline "Jackpot lottery winner says she’s awaiting ‘all the extra zeroes’ in her bank account."

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Mike Stunson
Lexington Herald-Leader
Mike Stunson covers real-time news for McClatchy. He is a 2011 Western Kentucky University graduate who has previously worked at the Paducah Sun and Madisonville Messenger as a sports reporter and the Lexington Herald-Leader as a breaking news reporter. 
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