Man buys a few $5 lottery tickets ‘on a whim’ — and it pays off big in Michigan

A man who usually only buys $20 lottery tickets in Michigan is really glad he changed it up.

“I decided to purchase a few $5 tickets on a whim,” the 63-year-old player told Michigan Lottery officials. That decision paid off big time.

“I started scratching the tickets when I got home and saw I’d matched a number,” he said. “When I revealed the winning amount of $500,000, I was in disbelief! I’ve been playing for years hoping to win big and I can’t believe it finally happened.”

The Wayne County man, who decided to remain anonymous, had played the $25 Million Cash Payout instant game, according to a Nov. 2 news release. He bought his winning ticket at JCJ Food in Detroit.

He hopes to go to Florida and pay off his home with the prize.