Lottery winner - money - stock photo — Lottery winner - Money - Stock Photo

A spur-of-the-moment decision to buy a lottery ticket has dramatically changed the life of Matthew Russell from Fenton, Genesee County, who won $25,000 a year for life in the Michigan Lottery’s Lucky For Life game.

Russell’s winning ticket matched the five white balls in the drawing on June 30, with the numbers 06, 09, 12, 24, and 32. He purchased his ticket at Hartland AC Holdings LLC, located at 10440 Highland Road in Hartland, which is approximately 50 miles east of Lansing.

Reflecting on his win, Russell shared, “I wasn’t going to play Lucky for Life that day, but I was driving by the store on my way home and decided at the last minute to stop and buy a ticket.” The following day, upon checking the numbers and realizing his win, he exclaimed, ‘Heck yeah!’ and described feeling numb, a sensation that lingered for weeks.

Suzanna Shkreli, the Lottery Commissioner, commented on the win, saying, “Part of what makes playing Lottery games fun is never knowing when or where you might buy a big winner.” She extended congratulations to Russell on his life-changing victory.

At 57, Russell recently visited the Lottery headquarters to claim his prize, opting for a one-time lump sum payment of $390,000 instead of the annuity option. He plans to use his winnings as a financial cushion for his upcoming retirement, ensuring a secure and comfortable future.

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