A 30-year-old Cheboygan County man will go down in history after winning $6 million playing the Michigan Lottery’s new $300,000,000 Diamond Riches instant game. The prize is the largest ever offered on an instant game in Michigan.
“It’s really unreal to be sitting here collecting $6 million,” said the player. “I haven’t stopped shaking since I scratched the ticket off.”
The lucky player, who chose to remain anonymous, bought his winning ticket at Vanderbilt Downtown EZ Mart, located at 8114 Mill Street in Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt is about 10 miles north of Gaylord.
“I heard about the new $50 ticket and told my friend I was going to buy one on pay day,” said the player. “I didn’t think I would actually win the top prize, but I still wanted to try it.
“We stopped at the store on the way to work so that I could buy one and I scratched it when I got in my car. When I saw I had won the $6 million prize, I started shaking and showed my friend. We were both freaking out!”
The player visited Lottery headquarters recently to claim his prize. He chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $4.1 million rather than 30 annuity payments for the full amount. With his winnings, he plans to take a trip to Disneyland and then save the remainder.
“Winning is unreal and a big blessing. I never thought I would be a millionaire,” the player said.
Players have won more than $14 million playing $300,000,000 Diamond Riches which launched in earlier this month. Each $50 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $50 up to $6 million. More than $317 million in prizes remain, including two $6 million top prizes, 98 $50,000 prizes, and 715 $2,500 prizes.
Each non-winning ticket is eligible for a second chance to win a prize ranging from $500 up to $100,000. Players can enter by scanning non-winning $300,000,000 Diamond Riches tickets on the Michigan Lottery mobile app ticket scanner by Nov. 13, 2022. A total of 10 second chance drawings will be conducted. Each drawing will award:
- One winner of $100,000
- Five winners of $10,000
- Twenty winners of $1,000
- Sixty winners of $500
The first second chance drawing will take place July 20. Players may continue earning entries into the first drawing through July 17. Players can visit MichiganLottery.com/DiamondRiches for complete game rules and drawing dates.
In 2021, Lottery players won more than $1.8 billion playing instant games.
