Checking his Lucky For Life ticket at 2:30 a.m. had a Macomb County man thinking he was dreaming after he realized he’d won $25,000 a year for life!

Donald Heilig, 69, won the big prize when his Lucky For Life ticket matched the five white balls drawn on April 19: 05-08-24-28-34. He bought his winning ticket at the Hub Sports Bistro, located at 16780 21 Mile Road in Macomb Township.

“I play Lottery regularly, usually Daily 4, but on April 19 I decided to try Lucky For Life,” said Heilig. “I woke up at 2:30 a.m. and pulled up the winning numbers before I laid back down. It really was hard to know if I was dreaming or if I had really won big because it was the middle of the night!

“The next morning, I had my wife look at the ticket to make sure I had really won. We must have checked the ticket at least 10 times before we came to claim the prize.”

Heilig 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. With his winnings, he plans to buy his wife a car and then save the remainder.

Lucky For Life has been exceptionally lucky for Lottery players this year. Players have won a lifetime of cash eight times so far in 2024 playing Lucky For Life. The big wins came on:

• Feb. 20, with a ticket bought at Borders Corner Store, located at 7024 East Pickard Road in Mount Pleasant. This prize was recently claimed by a Flushing woman.
• March 12, with a ticket bought online at com. This prize was recently claimed by an Escanaba woman.
• March 23, with a ticket bought at the Value Center Market, located at 27428 6 Mile Road in Livonia. This prize was recently claimed by a Redford Township woman.
• March 25, with a ticket bought online at MichiganLottery.com.
• March 26, with a ticket bought at Merriman Drugs, located at 31320 5 Mile Road in Livonia.
• April 17, with a ticket bought online at MichiganLottery.com.
• April 19, with a ticket bought at the Hub Sports Bistro, located at 16780 21 Mile Road in Macomb Township.
• April 29, with a ticket bought at Morning Fresh Bakery, located at 3223 North Adrian Highway in Adrian.

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.