Grosse Ile Woman Wins $1 Million at the Michigan Lottery’s Millionaire Maker Second Chance Event

An unforgettable phone call after landing in Las Vegas led a Grosse Ile woman to winning $1 million during the Michigan Lottery’s Millionaire Maker Second Chance giveaway!

Sarah Tawwater, 44, won the $1 million grand prize at the Millionaire Maker Second Chance live event that took place during the Detroit Pistons game on April 8. Tawwater earned entries into the giveaway by scanning her non-winning Millionaire Maker instant game tickets on the Michigan Lottery mobile app. She was one of five finalists selected in a random drawing to participate in the event.

“I had just landed in Las Vegas when I got the call that I was chosen as a Millionaire Maker contestant and had the chance to win $1 million,” said Tawwater. “I was in disbelief and had to sit down while I processed the news because these types of things just don’t happen in real life, or at least that’s what I thought!

“When the wheel was spinning, I thought it was going to tick over to red, so when it stopped on blue all I could think was: ‘There’s no way!’ I think I just went into shock. The whole experience still feels surreal.”

With her winnings, Tawwater plans to buy new vehicles for herself and her husband, remodel her kitchen, and then save the remainder.

Players have won more than $90 million playing the Millionaire Maker instant game, which launched in September 2025.