‘I Screamed So Loud That I Scared My Son’: Michigan Woman Wins $1 Million on Scratch-off

A 58-year-old Kent County woman has claimed the $1 million top prize on the Michigan Lottery’s $1,000,000 Bonus Scratch Multiplier after buying the $10 ticket at a Kentwood liquor store and scratching it at home, officials announced Aug. 31. She chose the lump-sum cash option worth roughly $693,000, the prize’s cash value equal to approximately 69% of the advertised $1 million top prize. Two more $1 million winning tickets remain unclaimed in the same game. Scream Heard at Home After Kentwood Ticket Purchase The woman bought the winning scratch-off at Aikan Liquor, 1640 44th Street Southeast in Kentwood, and later filed her claim at Michigan Lottery headquarters. She told lottery officials she regularly plays scratch-off games and frequently changes where she buys tickets, making the latest stop particularly memorable. “I buy a lottery ticket almost every day, and typically buy my tickets at all different stores,” she said in the lottery’s statement. “I scratched my $1,000,000 Bonus Scratch Multiplier ticket when I got home from the store, and when I saw I’d won $1 million, I screamed so loud that I scared my son.” The woman said the prize was a relief from financial stress and indicated that she plans to save the money. Lottery officials did not release her name; she was identified only as an anonymous player from Kent County. Lump Sum Vs. Annuity: What the $1 Million Prize Actually Pays The scratch-off’s headline figure is $1 million, but the payout structure permits winners to take either guaranteed annual installment payments or an immediate lump-sum cash payment. The Kent County winner selected the cash option, which Michigan Lottery valued at about $693,000 - a 31% reduction from the advertised jackpot and the standard trade-off used in U.S. lottery payouts. The winning ticket facts, as reported by Michigan Lottery officials, are summarized below. Winning Ticket Facts Lottery-Reported Figures Winner residence Kent County, Michigan Game $1,000,000 Bonus Scratch Multiplier Ticket price $10 Advertised top prize $1,000,000 Lump-sum payout selected About $693,000 Purchase store Aikan Liquor, 1640 44th Street Southeast, Kentwood Claim office Michigan Lottery Headquarters Top prizes still unclaimed 2 $10,000 prizes still unclaimed 13 $2,000 prizes still unclaimed 106 The $1 million figure and the lump-sum amount are the numbers commonly cited before tax withholding; a winner’s final bank deposit can change based on federal and state tax rules. Lottery officials did not disclose further payment details for this claim. Prize Pool Still Holds Two More $1 Million Winners The $1,000,000 Bonus Scratch Multiplier launched in February. State data show the game already has paid out more than $16 million in prizes, including amounts ranging from $10 to the $1 million top tier. About $29 million in prizes remains outstanding across multiple tiers. The remaining confirmed prize distribution includes: 2 tickets worth $1,000,000 13 tickets worth $10,000 106 tickets worth $2,000 Lottery officials offered no timeline for when the remaining prizes might be claimed. Michigan players won more than $1.7 billion on instant games during 2025, according to the Michigan Lottery’s payout figures. Michigan Win Adds to Summer’s Seven-figure Lottery Payouts The Kent County jackpot follows a stretch of large scratch-off and regulated lottery prizes in the U.S. and Europe this summer. Earlier this month, a player won $1 million on a ticket he scratched on his porch the day after house hunting. In an unrelated case abroad, an Italian sanitation crew recovered a discarded ticket worth $1.15 million after it was thrown away over a single word. The back-to-back announcements highlight the role of state-run instant games in producing large payouts for ordinary ticket buyers. How Much Is a $1,000,000 Bonus Scratch Multiplier Ticket in Michigan? The ticket costs $10 apiece. Prizes range from $10 to $1,000,000, and the game launched in February. Where Was the Winning $1 Million Michigan Scratch-off Ticket Bought? The winning ticket was purchased at Aikan Liquor, located at 1640 44th Street Southeast in Kentwood. The 58-year-old winner from Kent County scratched the ticket at home and claimed the prize at Michigan Lottery headquarters. Why Did the Michigan Winner Get About $693,000 Instead of $1 Million? She chose the one-time lump-sum payout instead of receiving the full amount through annuity payments. The cash option for the $1 million prize is roughly $693,000, which is about 69% of the advertised face value. Are There Still $1 Million Prizes Left in the Michigan Lottery Game? Yes. Two unclaimed tickets worth $1,000,000 remain in the $1,000,000 Bonus Scratch Multiplier game. The game also lists 13 outstanding $10,000 prizes and 106 outstanding $2,000 prizes. What Will the Michigan Lottery Winner Do with Her Prize Money? The winner told Michigan Lottery officials the payout relieves financial stress and she plans to save the money. She asked to remain anonymous and was identified only as a 58-year-old Kent County woman.