- Michael Sopejstal from Illinois struck gold, winning $25,000 a year for life in the Lucky For Life lottery game held in Michigan
- The winning ticket, featuring the numbers 11, 15, 17, 24, and 48, was purchased at the GoLo gas station in New Buffalo
- Despite intending to buy a ticket for 10 draws, the clerk printed one with 10 lines for a single draw and Sopejstal, undeterred by the error, decided to keep the ticket
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In a stroke of luck, Michael Sopejstal, a 60-year-old resident of Illinois, found himself the recipient of a life-altering prize after a serendipitous error by a store clerk.
Sopejstal won $25,000 a year for life in the Lucky For Life lottery game held in Michigan, with the winning numbers 11, 15, 17, 24, and 48.
Sopejstal shared the story of the unexpected windfall, stating, "I always get a Lucky for Life ticket for 10 or 20 draws while I’m here.
I asked the retailer for a ticket for 10 draws, but he accidentally printed a ticket with 10 lines for one draw, but I told him I still wanted it."
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The life-changing ticket was purchased at the GoLo gas station in New Buffalo, Michigan.
Sopejstal, who frequents Michigan for his favourite restaurant despite residing in Illinois, recently claimed his prize at the Michigan Lottery headquarters.
"I checked my ticket one morning and saw that I had won $25,000 a year for life. It was an amazing feeling!" Sopejstal exclaimed.
He decided to receive a lump sum of $390,000 instead of the $25,000 annual payments over 20 years.
Lucky For Life tickets, costing $2 each, offer various prizes, ranging from $3 to $1,000 a day for life.
To secure the top prize, players must match all five winning numbers (1-48) and a Lucky Ball (1-18).
Sopejstal's odds of winning on September 17 were 1 in more than 1.8 million, according to the game's website.
With his newfound fortune, Sopejstal plans to embark on travels and judiciously save the remaining winnings.
The unexpected jackpot serves as a testament to the unpredictable nature of lottery games and the surprising turns of fate that can accompany them.
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