What started as a routine stop at a local market quickly turned into a life-changing moment for a Wayne County man who bought a scratch-off lottery ticket “on a whim” — and ended up winning a staggering $2 million.
The 32-year-old Michigan Lottery player, who chose to remain anonymous, said he was visiting Fleck’s Fresh Mart on Michigan Avenue in Canton when a certain group of tickets caught his eye. He wasn’t planning on playing, but decided to follow a gut feeling.
“I don’t usually play the 100X game,” he told Michigan Lottery officials. “But I bought a few on a whim while I was at the store.”
It’s a phrase that lottery winners often repeat: “on a whim,” “just felt lucky,” “something told me to buy it.” While most such purchases lead to a few minutes of mild suspense and, at best, a small win or break-even, this time was different. This time, it was worth millions.
A Life-Changing Scratch
Shortly after leaving the store, the man began scratching the tickets. That’s when the unbelievable happened.
“I was scratching off one of the tickets and when I saw I matched number 11 with ‘$2MIL’ underneath, I kept asking myself: ‘What does this mean?’ Because I didn’t believe I really won $2 million at first.”
Staring at the ticket in disbelief, he found himself unable to fully trust what he was seeing. Was it a printing error? Was there some catch? Had he misunderstood the rules of the game?
“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “It just didn’t seem real. I had to get a second opinion.”
So he turned to someone he trusted completely: his mother. He brought the ticket to her and asked her to look it over, hoping for confirmation — or at least some clarity.
“When my mom looked the ticket over and told me it was a $2 million winner, I was so excited I didn’t know what to do with myself!”
From $20 to $2 Million
The man spent just $20 on a few tickets — an ordinary amount that many lottery players might spend in hopes of hitting a jackpot. That small, spontaneous purchase turned into a $2 million top prize, which remains one of the highest instant win amounts available in Michigan’s scratch-off games.
“Turning $20 into $2 million is unbelievable and still doesn’t feel real,” he added. “I don’t think it’s going to fully sink in until I cash the check.”
According to the Michigan Lottery, the 100X Money scratch-off game offers multiple prize levels, but only a few tickets contain the game’s top prize. That makes wins like this incredibly rare. The odds of winning the $2 million top prize are steep — often around 1 in several million — making the man’s spontaneous decision even more remarkable.
What’s Next?
While the winner has chosen not to publicly disclose his name, as allowed under Michigan law, he has claimed the prize and is currently working with lottery officials to finalize the payout. Winners of large prizes can choose to receive the money as a lump-sum payment or as an annuity over time.
Though he hasn’t yet shared detailed plans for how he intends to use the money, the excitement and gratitude were clear in his voice as he spoke to lottery officials. In many similar cases, winners opt to pay off debt, purchase homes, help family members, or invest in long-term financial security.
“Right now, I’m just trying to let it sink in. It still feels like I’m dreaming,” he said.
A Trend of Sudden Wins
This lucky moment adds to a growing list of Michigan Lottery success stories in recent years. The state has seen a string of major instant game winners across counties, with millions of dollars paid out through both draw games and scratch-off tickets. According to Michigan Lottery reports, hundreds of millions of dollars in prizes are awarded annually, with a significant portion coming from instant games like 100X Money, which continue to be popular due to their simplicity and immediate results.
Officials often remind players to play responsibly, noting that while big wins make headlines, the vast majority of lottery tickets do not win large prizes. Still, stories like this — an everyday person winning life-changing money from a casual purchase — continue to capture the public’s imagination.
Where the Winning Ticket Was Bought
The winning ticket was purchased at Fleck’s Fresh Mart, located on Michigan Avenue in Canton, a suburban town west of Detroit. The store is now part of lottery history — and could see an increase in traffic from hopeful players wanting to try their own luck at a “lucky store.”
Retailers that sell winning tickets often receive bonuses from the Michigan Lottery, typically a percentage of the prize amount. While Fleck’s may not receive a full windfall like the winner, the store could benefit from a reputation boost and increased sales.
A Reminder of Possibility
At its core, this story is a reminder of how quickly life can change — sometimes with just a small decision, a moment of spontaneity, or a feeling that leads to something unexpected. The man who scratched off a $2 million prize didn’t have a strategy or a long-standing plan. He simply followed a whim.
It’s also a reminder that, while the odds are long, someone eventually wins — and on that day, in that store, it was him.
