LANSING, January 28, 1999 – The big question in Michigan this week may well be, "What would you do with $50 million?"  Dreams of fortune are swirling throughout the state as the Michigan Lottery’s Big Game jackpot balloons to an estimated $50 million for the Friday, Jan. 29 drawing!

"Things are starting to get very exciting," said Michigan Lottery Commissioner Don Gilmer.  "I think The Big Game is more than living up to its name this week, and we’ve got our fingers crossed for a Michigan jackpot winner!"

If one player in Michigan were to have the only winning ticket to match all six Big Game numbers, it would be the largest single jackpot ever won in Michigan Lottery history!  The largest to date is the $45.6 million Big Game jackpot from the January 24, 1997 drawing; that prize was divided among the 17-member "Friends Forever" lottery club of Jackson.

If one winning ticket matches all six numbers and the player has selected Annuity payments, before taxes it would amount roughly to:

• $1.92 million annually for 26 years; or
• $37,000 per week; or
• $5,200 per day!

A player who selects Cash Option for jackpot winnings would also have a pretty nice payday.  The present cash value of the $50 million jackpot is approximately $27.8 million, before taxes!

The Big Game offers nine ways to win cash prizes ranging from $1 to the jackpot, including a second-tier prize of $150,000 for matching the first five numbers.  The other participating Big Game states are Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts and Virginia.  To date, six Big Game jackpots have been won by Michigan Lottery players.  Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 6,400 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Largest Jackpots (TOTAL AMOUNT) Awarded by the Michigan Lottery

Largest Jackpots Awarded to a SINGLE WINNER by the Michigan Lottery