A Sterling Heights man feels relieved to finally claim his $25,000 a year for life Lucky For Life prize nine months after winning.

Floyd Warstler, 70, matched the five white balls drawn Aug. 13, 2022 – 13-26-34-37-48 – to win the big prize. He bought the winning ticket at the Sunoco gas station, located at 45471 Ryan Road in Shelby Township.

“I buy a Lucky For Life ticket every Monday,” said Warstler. “About a month after the drawing, I realized I’d never checked this ticket, so I scanned it while I was at the store. I got a message to file a claim at the Lottery office, so I thought maybe I’d won a $5,000 prize.

“I got in my car and set the ticket aside to check when I got home and ended up forgetting about it. A week later, my girlfriend found the ticket in my car and asked if I’d checked it. After I told her about the message that came up when I scanned it at the store, she checked the winning numbers online. When we found out I’d won $25,000 a year for life, we couldn’t believe it!

“We went down South for the winter a few days after finding out I’d won, so I am very relieved to finally be at the Lottery collecting my prize!”

Warstler visited Lottery headquarters recently to claim his prize. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time lump sum payment of $390,000 rather than annuity payments of $25,000 a year for 20 years or life, whichever is greater. He plans to invest his winnings.

For just $2 per play, Lucky For Life gives Lottery players a chance to win prizes ranging from $3 to a lifetime of cash. To win the game’s top prize of $1,000 a day for life, players must match all five winning numbers ranging from 1 to 48, plus one Lucky Ball ranging from 1 to 18. Players who match all five winning numbers, but not the Lucky Ball, will win $25,000 a year for life. Drawings take place at 10:38 p.m. seven days-a-week. Tickets may be purchased at Lottery retailers across the state and online at MichiganLottery.com.