Talk about a life-changing caffeine run!
A routine stop for an energy drink turned into a million-dollar moment for one lucky Emmet County resident. The 42-year-old Michigan man, who chose to remain anonymous, stopped at Tom and Dick’s Inc. in Petoskey for a quick pick-me-up — but walked out with a $1 million prize from the Michigan Lottery’s Diamond Wild Time instant game.
“I’ve been playing this game since it came out because I’ve had pretty good luck with it,” the winner said. “I stopped to get an energy drink and saw they had the Diamond Wild Time game, so I bought just one ticket.”
What happened next was nothing short of surreal.
“When I scratched the ticket and saw I won $1 million, I had to pinch myself because I thought I was dreaming!” he recalled. In disbelief, he rushed to his sister’s house to show her the ticket. Initially, she thought it was a joke. But after scanning it on the Michigan Lottery app, the truth was undeniable — he had just become a millionaire.
Instead of receiving his prize in annual payments, the man opted for a one-time lump-sum payout of $634,000. He already has plans for his winnings — including buying a new car and investing for the future.
Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli congratulated the winner, saying, “Winning $1 million would be a dream come true for anyone, and it’s especially exciting for this player who won on the game he’s been playing for nearly two years.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Tom and Dick’s Inc., 921 Emmet Street, Petoskey — a location that might now see an uptick in hopeful lottery players.
The Michigan Lottery continues to create big winners. In June 2024, the “Breakfast Club” lottery group from Michigan took home a massive $842 million Mega Millions jackpot, planning to buy homes in Florida and travel the world.
But not all stories have such a happy ending — a $250,000 Powerball ticket sold in Bloomfield Hills in 2024 went unclaimed, with the funds redirected to the state’s School Aid Fund. It’s a reminder to always check your tickets!
For the latest updates, winners’ stories, and information on instant games, players can visit the official Michigan Lottery website.